A Delicate Moment for the Occupy Wall Street Movement

[WilliamPitt]

A group of children from Central Park East One and Two schools join demonstrators at the Occupy Wall Street protest in Zuccotti Park, New York, October 10, 2011. (Photo: Michael Appleton / The New York Times)

A Delicate Moment for the Occupy Wall Street Movement
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

Tuesday 11 October 2011 ( which also happens to be my second wedding anniversary :) )

Anyone who still thinks the 'Occupy Wall Street' protests are some kind of fluke, an exercise in ego inflation by spoiled college kids and aging hippies, needs to go back to bed. This thing is very much for real, is very large, and is growing exponentially. Similar protests have sprung up in dozens of cities all across the country, and with an 'Occupy the London Stock Exchange' action set to take place on Saturday, the movement is poised to become an international affair.

The New York police have already laid into the Wall Street protesters with unnecessary violence on more than one occasion, and the Boston police have likewise gotten into the action...

(snip)

Frontal assaults have not been the only tactic deployed by those who would like to see the OWS movement dry up and blow away. Patrick Howley, an assistant editor for the right-bent publication The American Spectator, bragged on the Spectator's website about deliberately disrupting a peaceful protest at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, for no other reason than to give the protesters a bad name. James O'Keefe, the wannabe gotcha-journalist famous for his manipulative hit pieces on ACORN and NPR, has been spotted skulking around Wall Street...which sets up an amusing potential endgame for him, as he is on probation in New Jersey and requires a judge's permission to leave the state. As best as anyone can determine, that permission was never obtained. Hopefully Mr. O'Keefe can find refuge in an OWS protester's tent to avoid the judge's wrath.

So the cops are getting heavier, the agent provocateurs are out in force, and the protests continue to grow. Now is a most delicate time for the movement. If the protesters react with violence to police, the "mainstream" media will have the opportunity they've been waiting for to disparage and discredit the entire thing. If the fakers and disruptors in the crowd are not exposed immediately, as was the care with Howley and O'Keefe, they will paint a fraudulent picture of the movement that will likewise allow the "mainstream" news to create an inaccurate and unflattering picture. So far so good on these scores, but the protesters absolutely must continue to do what they have been so excellently doing, no matter what provocations they are presented with. The whole world is indeed watching.

Another delicate moment looms for the movement, one you can file under "With Friends Like These..." Yes, everyone can relax, because the Democratic Party is coming to the hoedown. The very politicians whose inactivity and collusion regarding Wall Street excesses made this movement necessary in the first place have licked their finger, put it to the wind, and decided it is safe to come out and play...

(snip)

Howls of outrage and disgust from OWS activists and supporters could be heard all up and down the Eastern seaboard when word reached them of their new prospective allies. No, no, and hell no, went the refrain. These are the same politicians who line the pockets of the very people being protested, and now all of a sudden they want to join the struggle? The OWS movement is protesting the Democrats as much as it protesting against the rest of the crooked institutional theft machine that shattered the economy in the first place.

There is a decision to be made here. Does the OWS movement issue a "Thanks But No Thanks" response to the Democrats' sudden interest, or do they open their arms and welcome the Party to the party under the auspices of "The More The Merrier"?

Personally, I incline to the latter choice, distasteful as it may be. Including the Democratic Party will raise the profile of the movement, and make it more difficult for it to be undermined. Time will tell if they are too undermined by their own participation in the economic collapse to be of any assistance, and it is certain that their inclusion will leave a bad taste in many mouths. It is yet another delicate question at a very delicate moment, but if it were up to me, I would say "Better late than never," open up the tent, and let them see for themselves what it looks like when history is being made.

The rest: http://www.truth-out.org/delicate-moment-occupy-wall-street-movement/1318336894

[mike_c]

1. ANY party politicians will coopt the movement and tarnish its message....

The OWS movement needs to remain nonaligned, IMO. It needs to create its own momentum. It might spawn another party. It might lead a revolution. But neither of those things will happen if it allies itself with either of the two primary parties in power, because neither of those parties can tolerate those outcomes.

[geardaddy]

6. Jesse Ventura already has tried to co-opt it here in MN.

"If this movement needs a political face, it needs to be mine..." -Gov. Jesse Ventura #OccupyMN

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. Sounds like Jesse!

[Warpy]

2. Patrick Howley was just too funny

complaining bitterly that "cowards" wouldn't follow him inside the museum (it had never been part of the plan, stupid) and that he was the only one who "made it inside" to collect his ugly face full of Mace.

That speaks very well of the discipline of the protest and very ill of right wing would-be disrupters. I was very impressed that he didn't get anybody to follow him.

If it continues like this, it will be unstoppable. The next phase is mass arrests. If enough unemployed and other thrown away people reoccupy and get arrested, the system will soon be overwhelmed.

And that is one of the ways civil disobedience works.

[Old and In the Way]

3. I'd prefer a "Show Me the money" type of response.

Do their job in Congress by representing the 99% and let the Republicans represent the 1%. If they'd actually start developing legislation that addresses the structural problems and institutional corruption, I'd be able to see that their action speaks louder than words. I know the chances of actually getting pro-99% legislation is slim to none with this Congress, but a real effort by the Democratic Party to represent the vast majority of Americans not working on Wall Street would be a start in the right direction.

[Bragi]

4. The pols will disappear when the head-cracking starts

I agree that the protests are expanding, which means the oligarchs have reason to be scared. For them, peaceful protests cannot be allowed to grow, and nuisance bylaws will need to be used and invented to justify police attacks against the protesters.

That's what the 1% do when they get scared.

I'm quite confident the pols will be nowhere to be seen when the head-cracking gets going. The pols will urge everyone to "be nice" and "obey the law" and then bail out, while refusing to acknowledge the police riots when they happen.

That's to be expected.

[coalition_unwilling]

8. Menino, Mayor of Boston, is a nominal Democrat. He and his goons

showed us exactly what support from Dems means last night, beating on Veterans for Peace members. WTF?

[workinclasszero]

18. Right where are they today

after the police riot in Boston last night where kids and US Veterans were thrown down on the pavement, cuffed and dragged off while the cops wiped their feet on their flags?

Where are our so called democratic party allies today, hmm?

[Romulox]

5. It's not logically possible to "protest" in favor of the status quo.

This is the result of an ambiguous message--broad co-option.

[renate]

7. I realize that I am hopelessly, ridiculously naive, but...

I think many Democrats--not all--would LOVE to be able to act like Democrats again, and that the OWS movement reflects their beliefs too. It's just that they haven't been able to say so out loud till now because politics has, thanks to the Supreme Court and FOX, become 99% about money for re-election, not about representing the people.

Now, if someone like Rahm Emanuel started marching with the Occupy Chicago folks, that would be blatantly opportunistic. But for many Democratic politicians, this might be just what they've been waiting for to see it's safe to come back home.

[WilliamPitt]

9. Same feelings here

:toast:

[WhiteTara]

10. I agree we need to include the Democrat and embrace the

progressives of the party.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Embracing Democrats is one thing. Embracing the Party is another.

And, being embraced by the Party is akin to being embraced by a smiling crocodile.

[WilliamPitt]

12. Fair point

Indeed.

[KoKo]

42. Well said.....

smiling crocodile, indeed.

[mmonk]

13. In time. First they have to listen, not dictate.

I know they want to use the movement heading into an election. But the movement needs actions beyond campaign rhetoric.

[marions ghost]

14. right

I think the OWS should be wary of these attempts. The movement needs to maintain autonomy.

OK, the DEMS can give them all the lip service support they want --but they can't make it a Democratic party affiliate.

This is a movement that wants to see a TRUE Democracy in America. UNlike the Democratic party--which has no interest in changing the status quo.

This needs to be an inclusive, and therefore non-partisan movement for quite awhile yet IMO.

[mmonk]

19. I have no problem with a candidate such as Elizabeth Warren

running under the banner but the party doesn't deserve it. It will have to be earned just as it was in previous movements. They have to act on its ideals before being recognized as a connection..

[marions ghost]

30. totally agree

progressives have to stick together in this. The Dem party has got to earn it.

[me b zola]

27. Yes, this is where rubber meets the road

If they really support the movement their actions in congress/what ever elected seat they hold will reflect it. IOWs, stop voting for unfair trade agreements. Stop protecting wall street. Work to get money out of politics. Stop bailing out banks and begin to bailout people. Reinstate Glass Siegel. Stand against oil & gas companies writing energy policy, defense contractors writing foreign policy. Listen to what occupiers are saying and begin acting accordingly. Then by their actions we know they support OWS...the 99%.

[kimsarah]

36. Won't happen

[me b zola]

38. I didn't say nor imply that it would

I said that if a politician indeed supports OWS that these are actions that they would address. IOWs, put up or shut up. Lack of action on these issues proves them to be shameless liars.

[dana_b]

47. agree 100%

I think they should go to Occupy WS/D.C. or where ever and listen to the people there. I hope that the occupiers would welcome them. I think they would - as long as the politicians didn't try to co-opt anything.

After listening, they need to go back to D.C. (or their state capitols) and make/fight for legislation that we need.

[lunatica]

15. If we embrace all of them why should they change? Why the need for expediancy now?

So they'll let us back them while they're still taking money from lobbyists? What would convince them otherwise if we just look the other way for the sake of expediency?

No need to embrace the Party. Embrace the Progressive Democrats who are fighting against the same things the 99% are fighting. Embrace those who have fought for us. They don't have to pass a purity test either. All they have to do is back the 99% in key issues.

[marions ghost]

16. Right!

Embrace only the few truly progressive Democrats. And we all know who they are.

ONLY them.

[kimsarah]

37. The Democratic Party

Has plenty of money and support from Wall Street to embrace it. Reaching out to little people for donations is tokenism.

[greytdemocrat]

17. One thing...

And it's from that pic in Will's post.

That kids should NOT be there. I find that incredibly irresponsible for
a parent to be bringing little kids down to a protest like this.

If you want to play protest, that's fine. But don't bring little
kids to events like this. Stupid. Just plain stupid.

[coalition_unwilling]

20. "Play protest" - your words give away your agenda without any

need to parse further.

You actually think the OWS people are 'playing'????

[greytdemocrat]

22. Yes Play.

And I'm hardly the only one on DU that thinks that.

[coalition_unwilling]

33. Well,I and many on DU have no use for you. So welcome to

my Ignore list.

[Melinda]

21. Look again; those are schoolchildren, under school supervision. I have not

read anything else except the description under the photo, so I assume when I say it appears they are part of a learning process, and not as part of a family unit.

;)

K&R OP

Melinda

[greytdemocrat]

23. Those kids

Don't belong there. They are exposed to god only knows what and people think it's "nice"
and that they are "learning"??? Christ...

[Cherchez la Femme]

24. Are they on your lawn?

[me b zola]

39. Heaven forbid they learn about democracy

If only they would just rely on their parents to instill in them the crap they hear on faux news.

[myrna minx]

46. Heaven forbid our children are exposed to participatory democracy

and having an active voice in their own future. Don't worry, we'll keep all of those love children off of your lawn and try to keep the free love and patchouli to a minimum. LOL.

[dana_b]

48. "exposed to god only knows what"

like the drugs and sex orgies? :eyes:

You really need to turn off the t.v. and get out more.

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. Off topic but...

...May you have so very many years of happiness together. Happy Anniversary. :hug:

[KoKo]

26. Pitt....

get a ROKU BOX...and get International News....

Will help your blood pressure and save your cable bill.

[Mosaic]

28. I hope they use their power

For good use, for all their causes, our causes. Talking to the right people in power, convincing them first, then making *law* that reflects the society we want.

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. I agree

As wretched as the Democratic Party is these days - there is no other vehicle available. There is no realistic prospect of any other vehicle becoming available. The Democratic Party of the early 1960's was still full of southern segregationist dreaming of slavery's return - but the civil rights leadership was politically practical enough to welcome the support of Democrats and the Democratic Party leadership.

[AntiFascist]

31. I think the key is....

don't allow anyone to try to "lead" the movement, most of all any politicians. If Obama or Pelosi try to dictate anything, just ignore it. If they want to offer their support, then fine...this may provide some leverage over Republicans who want to see it come to an end.

A true democracy is based on consensus.

[Zorra]

34. Democrats are already welcome. Barry, Harry, Nancy and

the rest of the crew need to grab a sign and hit the streets if they want some cred love.

[Amonester]

40. They have to Do more than that, in my humble opinion.

They have to pledge to the 99% that, once voted back super-majorities in the House and Senate, they WILL:

#1 - End corporate welfare (which includes all tax-monies given to golden-parachute's CEOs of oil, mic, etc. corporations).

#2 - Use most of the tax-money saved by the #1 above to pass and implement a true Public Campaign Funding Act that outlaws all bribes to all politicians.

#3 - Direct the FCC to cancel all current licenses to all mass-media outlets, to issue new licenses that will include FREE airwave allotments to all official (and then "bribes free") political parties, on verifiable schedules.

#4 - End all foreign occupations by U.S. Troops and bring them all back home before the end of 2013.

#5 - Medicare for all (tax the plutocRat$ back at 1960's rates, and outlaw any fiscal evasion to any fiscal paradise).

#6 - Eliminate the SS cap (and don't do anything else).

#7 - Open the doors to a free education for all.

AND lots, and lots of other important stuff for the 21st century...

[Laelth]

44. Excellent list. Well said. n/t

-Laelth

[Amonester]

49. Although it is just a partial one, I mean all the tools exist to begin...

solving very serious problems this entire species (starting with the U.S. citizens here) will have to deal with sooner or later. There are no other ways around them, and the longer the existing solutions will be delayed (because of individual greed), the harder they will be to implement.

The sooner the better (it's getting very late).

[Laelth]

50. Agreed. n/t

-Laelth

[kimsarah]

35. A friendly reminder

from Glenn Greenwald to those who may have forgotten being called f*ing retards and would like to co-opt the OWS spirit.
http://politics.salon.com/2011/10/11/can_ows_be_turned_into_a_democratic_party_movement/singleton/

[ooglymoogly]

41. Many Democrat lawmakers do indeed need a lesson in

what a spine looks like.

[bvar22]

43. In 2008 the American People gave the Democratic Party:

*The White House

*A BIG Majority in The House

*A Filibuster-Proof Majority in The Senate

*A Republican Party on its Death Bed,

*(Most importantly) A HUGE Mandate For CHANGE
& an ARMY Standing in the Street.

The Democratic Party HAD their chance,
and threw it away for 30 pieces of Silver.

If the Democratic party had used their Mandate for Change,
there would not be an OWS movement today.

There are only a handful of Democrats in the Progressive Caucus who have earned a place,
but the Party as a whole, especially the Centrist Party Leadership, are part of the problem.
Without a serious public Mea Culpa and taking responsibility for their failure,
ANY involvement of the Centrist Party leadership would be transparent Campaign Hypocrisy,
and as far as I'm concerned, more than a little nauseating.


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity99!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Laelth]

45. Hear, hear! n/t

-Laelth

[ooglymoogly]

51. +1 nt