Reply #19: I've been to the Occupy Chicago site the past 2 weeks and the leaderless "vibe" does work, for now

[riderinthestorm]

but I don't think it's unreasonable for people to be thinking of strategizing on what's next. Most great social movements had years of dedicated strategy before payoff (for better or worse, the anti-abortion movement comes to mind - it's been decades in the making, or women's suffrage, the civil rights era etc.).

Face it, it's going to get too cold for the outdoor Occupy encampments to continue in the northern climates. While we may not need any leaders yet, perhaps we can begin some movements that also can work over the winter.

Some suggestions:

1. We need to hit them in the pocketbook. Continuing to encourage people to move their money out of the big corrupt banks and into their local banks and/or credit unions.

2. Christmas is coming up. How about we spear a movement to buy local from local producers. Don't spend money at the big stores - just stop. Make it your own. Or encourage businesses to post that they are "Occupy" supporters and patronize them. We need an economic hit plan and Christmas is a blockbuster event for us to work with in order to make a big dent in their bottom line.

3. How can we co-opt New Year's Eve so it becomes an "Occupy event"? That mass of people all carrying signs AND protesting AND having a party would be a blast!

Anyway, some thoughts