OWS isn't a Relevant Movement to Change Society and May Hurt Us More then It Helps Us

[MFrohike]

32. There's a thought

"OWS gets a lot of love on DU. However, it isn't a relevant movement. For a movement to be relevant, it has to capture the hearts and minds of the society. A protest movement is an insurgency, in a way. It has to figure out a way to shape its message in a way that the society adopts the protesters values and political views."

Don't take this the wrong way, but this kind of political acumen couldn't get one elected dogcatcher. The truly successful social movements are successful not because they propagandize their way through the political sphere, but because they hold up a mirror to society and ask, "Is this what you really want?" I can't say that the mirror method works outside of the US, but it's been rather successful more than a few times in this country.

I quoted your first paragraph because it demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of the currents moving in America today. The purpose of a constructive, as opposed to destructive, movement is not to "win hearts and minds." It's to appeal to latent beliefs. Honestly, that first paragraph really made me think of the modern right with its semi-anonymous financial backing, "independent" think tanks, "intellectuals," spin masters, and the like. The modern right absolutely needs the Popular Front model they use, which was consciously adopted, because they are advocating the interests of a small minority. It's no wonder they'd borrow from Lenin and the boys.

"The simple message that “this level of wealth inequality is unhealthy” and educating the population on the actual level of inequality would be a start. However, to do this effectively, one has to be focused and disciplined. Moreover, one needs to find means to speak to a larger segment of American society. In sum, OWS needs leadership and discipline to do this. Without it, OWS runs the risk of hurting more then it helps. Moreover, whatever message they do have, they will be taken apart by their enemies which do have both leadership and discipline."

What do you suggest? Be specific.