Some personal thoughts about the OWS protests and protesters.

[Stinky The Clown]

First off, I support fully the spirit of what they're doing.

I like that there's no one issue that they're protesting. There is a lot to be pissed off about and they're pissed off at a lot of things.

Good!

I'm not so sure it is necessary to literally camp out where they're camping out. Unless, like the Arab Spring, they're intent on overthrowing the government. I'm sure there's some of that, but I really doubt that's reflected in the majority of them. I think what they really want to do is effect some change in the existing government. And that's why, it seems to me, literally occupying what they're occupying isn't necessary.

The teabaggers got to effect change and influence the repubican party simply by being loud and obnoxious and threatening.

I think our side needs to be louder. Much louder. Loud and angry. Adopt a symbol, too. Go to gatherings where the politicians politic and be really loud. Wear prominently whatever symbol gets adopted. Shout down politicians who say shit they don't agree with.

Get in their faces. Instead of threatening, just bowl them over with numbers. Lots of angry, shouting people everywhere they turn.

And go home at night, shave and shower. Take care of your personal needs. Then get up and do it all over again.

And again.

And again.

Until the fuckers start listening.

I'm really not sure occupying a park or sidewalk, or whatever else they're occupying is as effective.

Plus, the whole thing will end come Winter. Better to sustain and let it keep on keeping on, isn't it?

Anyway, these are just some personal thoughts.

[OHdem10]

1. They would never have gotten the attention had they not remained

there day and night.

[redgiant]

2. From the beginning...

...my thought was that the protestors should have been occupying DC and state legislatures. I bet the politicians are happy to have them underfoot. WS may influence the rules, but it's the lawmakers who actually have to make the changes.

[JDPriestly]

7. It isn't a political problem in the usual sense.

The problem is big business's influence in our political system. If you replaced every member of our government, big business which is best represented, symbolized by Wall Street is the problem. It is the problem because of its influence in government -- at every level.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. They're doing fine. n/t

[backscatter712]

4. The teabaggers had a lot of help.

They got astroturfed into prominence by FreedomWorks and other conservative groups, got pimped heavily 24/7 by FOX News & other conservative-controlled media, the got all the help that would never be forthcoming for a movement like OWS.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. We've got Anonymous. the Guy Fawkes death mask, Bloomberg saying he'll try again

and millions of suffering Americans who've had enough of a system that has directly caused that pain and that is prizing selfishness over helping those who are suffering, very clearly in a huge disconnect from human values...we've got the Bush family working to bring the country into fascism, and something like a 24% unemployment rate for our youth...this must change for the better. It's already started. It's worth it. WE are worth it.

[JDPriestly]

6. Why don't you do it your way, and let others do it their way?

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Why the attitude?

Jaysu Fucking Keriste. They can stand there with their pants down if they want to. I don't actually much care. You seem to have taken my thoughts as a personal attack.

[U4ikLefty]

14. poor thing you are under attack

I'm sure you have been to the OWS protests a few times already...right?

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Why are you U4ik?

Bless your heart.

[Zorra]

9. Better yet, maybe you could pony up some cash and put some of us up

in a motel for awhile.

It's pretty hard to go home and clean up when you have to drive two hundred miles back and forth just to cop a shower.

[Missy Vixen]

10. I've also wondered what will happen when it gets cold in NYC

At the same time, I'm thinking those occupying will figure out how to deal with it.

The protesters are multiplying. We saw this morning that OWS managed to survive a direct challenge from Bloomberg and his goons, for instance.

We're older. Staying overnight probably isn't in the cards for us, but I look forward to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with others in Seattle's Westlake Park who believe we can make a difference.

[grasswire]

11. Would that be the "civil rights movement" model?

It worked that way, didn't it? Marchers and protesters didn't camp out; they showed up in their best clothes to walk together.

[Lars39]

12. I thought people were cycling in and out all the time.

[mmonk]

13. The Tea Party was a creation by the powerful. It didn't influence

anyone except the ignorant in society. The occupation will be treated different FOR A REASON. They are challenging the power. To be effective, they must remain steadfast and have no easy targets at its head.

[Coyote_Bandit]

16. I love what the OWS protestors are doing

My concern is that they are not also putting forth a uniform agenda to address the many things they conplain about. They are right to complain. They need to go the additional step of offering a viable solution.

[justiceischeap]

17. Personally, I think this probably the first step of many

When the "occupation" first started, they were ragtag and unorganized. As it's drawn out, they're getting organized, occupation are popping up, not only all over the US but globally. They, it seems to me, are starting a movement and in order for that movement to take hold, you have to get people interested. People are interested. The majority of Americans polled (Dem and Repub) are in favor of this movement. I'd guess they are currently thinking about their next steps because this occupation, if it continues in the long term, will loose steam and interest from the media. I wouldn't be surprised if the next phase isn't "Occupy your Town Hall" because someone who can't make it to the actual occupations will get that idea in their head and organize it, then that too will spread.

This is an organic movement, that is probably fair outdoing what the initial coordinators thought it would do. It's still little more than an idea that's probably overwhelming since there are people such as you and others like you, criticizing their every move. It's barely a month old--give it time to grow and become.

[Texasgal]

18. I must take issue with your statement

The teabaggers got to effect change and influence the Republican party simply by being loud and obnoxious and threatening.

Sorry, but teabaggers ARE loud and ARE threatening! They show up to rallies with guns, they have the supreme obnoxious queen putting cross-hairs on opponents faces on websites! Can you say Sarah Palin?

I mean, really.

[FarLeftFist]

19. NOT leaving is whats getting the attention, the arrests have galvanized this movement. Leaving would

Be like someone going on a hunger strike but still eating 1 or 2 meals a day. No one would care. Besides, this is a tactic seldom seen.