General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Prediction: The May 1st "general strike" is going to be an enormous flop. [View all]WinniSkipper
(363 posts)about my opinion.
In my opinion, I would not call yesterday a great show of strength of Occupy's mustering of those movements. You may.
OK - on the who are they reaching. I think they are reaching everyone - POORLY. I don't think they are reaching everyone with their message. And that is because of the way they are set up. And that is because yes, the media will glom on to the violence. It's a better story for the media. So how do you fight it? Occupy has to make it a non-story. They are not doing that.
Yes - they will get some headlines. I would like to see what kind of headlines they pull on their own when not tied to an event like May Day.
And again you make my point. Occupy will not succeed because they convince you, or me, or most anyone writing on these boards. They will succeed when their message reaches, and is accepted by, the mythical "joe average". Like it or not - that is how you succeed in our system.
And let's be honest with ourselves. If the Tea Party (and of course they wouldn't - this is hypothetical) put out message about the events of yesterday talked about in Pinboys flyer, like a General Strike, No Work, No School, No House Work, No Buying we would be laughing our asses off at them.
The first think Occupy needs to learn is to frame the discussion so that you don't over promise and under deliver. Especially in such a spectacular fashion. When you have told everyone all winter "wait till what you see in the Spring!".
You might not like my opinion, but it is anything but uniformed or unqualified.