People are not yet desperate enough.

[randome]

'Take to the streets' implies a certain level of urgency. But we're told by the faithful that OWS is focused on glacial changes instead of immediate ones.

Fine. If there is no urgency, call me when you have things fixed.

If OWS is intended to be a catalyst of change, there are a lot of people who presume to speak for it that don't seem to want to listen to constructive criticism on how to change tactics or goals.

OWS no longer represents the 99%. It wants to represent the 95% or the 80% but not the 99%.

That can change if we keep up the fight to change minds, both inside and outside OWS.

The march on Wall Street today is, I think, a step in the right direction. At least that has SOMETHING to do with the economic meltdown.

Fighting with cops over the right to camp in public parks does not.

[TBF]

1. Well at least you're being honest now ... that makes this partially better

than yesterday's "who am I - why am I here" post?

[randome]

4. Not sure what you mean by that.

My post yesterday was that OWS is spending too much time fighting cops over camping rights and not enough time taking the message to the right people.

Like I said, the march on Wall Street is at least closer to the goal of advocating for greater economic justice.

[TBF]

6. These are very early stages of resistance

after 30 years of extremely conservative rule. It is not going to be perfect from the get go, but in 2 months they certainly have gotten everyone's attention. Let's give them a chance to get this going without killing them with criticism.

Does that help?

[randome]

7. 'Killing them with criticism'?

I didn't know I had that power. I thought I was offering suggestions. My bad.

[Selatius]

2. I think OWS would probably take off if the unemployment doubled.

Few in living memory remember the food rioting and constant confrontations between unemployed workers and their former employers that took place in the dark years of the Great Depression. In the days before Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, food stamps, public housing, etc. things were pretty grim. That was true desperation from the working class in those days. They were literally starving to death on the streets.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Raising awareness is the very first step...

and not just preaching to the choir, but getting those who tend to be apathetic to take note and be engaged.

OWS is succeeding in that regard, imho.

I don't even see how anyone can say OWS is or isn't anything at this point, not in the sense you allude to here. I don't know who the faithful are.

There are so many people and so many different interests involved that I think most points are covered and at least being discussed, even if no concrete game plans have emerged.

People occupying various venues to raise awareness and bring attention to the gross injustice -- and being arrested and at risk of physical harm in doing so -- seems to have a level of urgency to the message, to me.

I couldn't disagree with you more that this is about "fighting with cops over the right to camp in public parks."

It's about much, much more. It's about civil rights and injustice on many levels. They're -- we're -- bringing that to the fore.

And this message and urgency IS being heard by politicians and others in power; some are starting to DO something (like the introduction of an amendment to overturn Citizens United), while the vast majority of those in power are fighting against OWS, which is not unexpected.

I don't know why so many -- left, right and center -- feel a need to criticize and demean this movement.

:shrug:

[randome]

5. Constructive criticism should always be welcome.

I would hope. Questioning tactics and methods should not imply disapproval of the entire movement. If OWS wants to represent the 99%, its adherents need to stop putting their fingers in their ears and listen to EVERYONE, not just those who agree.

[lunatica]

8. Constructive?

That's a laugh.

I guess you're going to take credit for what they're doing today right? This was actually planned you know. Even before you came up with your 'constructive criticism'.

I suppose you think they should just allow the police to pepper spray and beat them out of the parks. Why resist if it doesn't make sense to randome.

[randome]

10. You're not listening. At all.

My suggestion was that more direct action be taken and not let OWS get bogged down in 'camping rights'.

Stop protecting your turf and be open to what people want to say outside your echo chamber.

[Harmony Blue]

9. The point of OWS is not to have the solutions in hand

Fight for what is right first... justice, social order, economic fairness, etc are all principles to stand up for. If you haven't watched these principles eroded the last thirty years detractors will never understand.