Let me know when the issues OWS calls attention to are addressed instead of OWS as being the issue.

[mmonk]

I'll be back then. Stay cool and don't throw anything at yourselves. I'm glad at least investigations into bankster fraud are coming. That is the power of protest.

[Electric Monk]

1. That would be nice. Some people seem to be intentionally missing the point.

[TheWraith]

2. Maybe if they stopped making themselves the issue, that'll happen.

Instead they've been going out of their way to make themselves a spectacle rather than doing anything effective. And that's been a lot longer than the Oakland situation, it's almost since the beginning.

[Bonobo]

5. Spooky! nt

[SidDithers]

29. Weak sauce again...nt

Sid

[Bonobo]

30. Sam Francisky...Did you walk or did you flew?

[sabrina 1]

6. Lol!

Maybe some day you will actually learn something about this movement, which is still in its infancy and just how much it has achieved already while still in its early stages. More than Congress has for the people, over the few months it has been in existence. But you would have to be interested enough in its many accomplishments so far on behalf of so many people who were, until the emergence of this movement, totally forgotten by their elected representatives.

That is why it will continue to grow of course, because each time Occupiers help those passed over by their elected officials, they gain new supporters.


And that work continues, Globally, even as some people obsess over an insignificant event out of literally millions, thankfully. This will be forgotten in a few days, but those who were hungry and are now being fed, those who nearly lost their homes, but with the help of Occupy, forced their banks to renegotiate their loans, those who were homeless and forgotten, but now have thousands of new advocates, they will not forget, and will continue to help grow this movement which will be around for years to come, as it took years to create the circumstances that made it necessary in the first place.

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. Maybe we need a President Obama type list of those accomplishments?

Just a thought.

[sabrina 1]

10. Well, that's a good idea, but it is a very, very long list so it would probably take quite a lot of

time. And when you are busy doing stuff, I guess you are not concerned with making lists. After all, OWS is not running for office, they are more concerned with people, than politics.

[JSnuffy]

24. Touchy Feely and semantically null

All of OWS's accomplishments and $.99 will get you a McDouble...

[sabrina 1]

33. Welcome to DU, btw.

As for your comment, it made me laugh, as do the comments I see from the corporate media and the far right who desperately, desperately would like to see this movement go away so their corporate bosses don't have to worry about, OMG, the PEOPLE catching on to what they've been up to.

You're new, so I will forgive your lack of knowledge of what this movement is all about and its major accomplishments so far. Glad you're here and don't have to rely anymore on the Corporate media for news. That can be a real distraction from the facts, which I'm sure DU will teach you.

[Luminous Animal]

27. I've participated & watched us in both Oakland and San Francisco feed and shelter people.

I've participated & watched us provide community, warmth, food and shelter, all of which San Francisco & Oakland powers that be spend a lot of effort denying to people. I've participated & watched people put their lives and liberty on the line to fight for those not only the middle amongst us but the least amongst us... the middle amongst us and the least amongst us together. I've participated with and watch unions gain a stronger voice.

Economic justice, absent since Reagan, is now forefront in the U.S. lexicon.

[cherokeeprogressive]

34. The San Francisco and Oakland "powers that be" spend a lot of time denying people

community, warmth, food, and shelter?

Who are these "powers that be" in Oakland and San Francisco, and why do they keep getting re-elected?

I asked for a list of accomplishments, and you gave me "Economic justice... is now forefront in the U.S. lexicon". Whose lexicon?

[Luminous Animal]

35. Yes, they do. And homless activists in both cities have been battling both

for decades. These powers that be keep getting elected because both cities have party machines and those, for the most part, who have the most connections and cash will attain and hold public office.

Actually, I gave you more than lexicon. You ignored that. No surprise that you did.

And, as for the lexicon, I am referring to the so-called "populous rhetoric" that has been championed on this board that was "allegedly" part of Obama's SOTU address.

[sabrina 1]

37. Thank you for all you have done, Luminous Animal. I am in awe of all occupiers.

[Luminous Animal]

39. You are an Occupier!

Indeed you are. Bodies and minds, we are all in this together.

[sabrina 1]

40. Yes, I have written about this movement from the beginning, when predictions were, from the usual

'hopefuls' that it would not last a weekend. I like to go back every once in a while to my journal and that very first weekend, as I was too was not certain how long they would be able to stay in NY. And at that time, we were hoping people would come from around the country to support them. Instead, in a record amount of time, occupies sprang up all over the country. It really was amazing.

So when on a day like today when I see ridiculous predictions of the 'death of the movement' I can't help thinking of how many times those 'hopes' have been expressed, only to result in further growth. I'm not worried about the Movement, but I am interested in what has happened to so called 'left' in this country. And giving it a lot of thought lately. Everything is a learning experience and this movement sure has gotten a lot of all the 'right' people very riled up. Which to me means, they have been way more successful than they expected to be

I am in CA temporarily, and so missed all the action in NY to my great disappointment. Hope to be back there before the end of the year. But I do remember saying 'I will definitely be in NYC next year, IF this movement survives until then. After all, I think their goal was to stay until December, and now it is nearly Feb and there is no sign of them going anywhere!

[randome]

20. 'Literally millions' of events? LOL.

Hyperbole much?

If everyone else does not 'get' OWS, you might consider that the 'naysayers' have a point.

At least that's what our corporate masters told us to say!

Without clear leadership or a coherent message, OWS is squandering the opportunity of a lifetime.

[sabrina 1]

22. But sadly for those who would like it to go away, a majority of the people of the world DO

get it. Do not assume that because you personally do not get something, you represent everyone else.

This is Global Movement, which you do not appear to be aware of. So yes, millions of events, every day all over the world, they are occurring and have been now for four months. So, I repeat, 'millions of events' fyi. From Hong Kong to Australia, to NZ to almost every country in Europe, to Africa, the ME and even Antarctica.

Millions of exciting and wonderful events which have united people all over the world in a common goal, to stop the Global Capitalist destruction of their countries and ours.

Watch out for the next Global Occupy event in May. The one held in the Fall of last year was so inspiring and wonderful, amazing really to see people all over the world so united in caring about each other as human beings. The Spanish Indignados event that night though was probably the most beautiful, with more than one hundred thousand people present and the whole world watching.

[randome]

25. I don't think you have a firm grasp of the term 'millions'.

No one is doubting that OWS is a global phenomenon. But sometimes an OWS group does something stupid.

And that was Oakland this past weekend.

[sabrina 1]

26. The Occupy 'group' did not do 'something stupid'. A few people

were responsible for that incident, which happened, as these incidents always seem to happen, after the most important events were over. Saturday's events were going on all day long. And thousands were there, none of whom were engaged in this 'incident'. If you are going to report on something, please try to be accurate.

A few people do not represent a whole group and certainly not a movement. Why were THEY not arrested?? Over 400 peaceful protesters who did nothing like this, WERE arrested. Where were the ever-present Robo Cops when this happened?

[socialist_n_TN]

31. Who said that "everyone else does not 'get' OWS..."?

In fact judging by this board, the ones who don't "get" OWS seem to be a minority.

[tex-wyo-dem]

32. OWS not having "clear leadership"...

(And by "clear leadership," I assume you mean a singular figure or group) is part of the movement's strength. It's a group effort, totally organic and ever changing where everyone who wants to participate in GAs has a voice. This approach is driving everyone who wants to discredit the movement nuts because there is no central figure to attack.

With regards to "coherent message," well I'm not sure what to say about that other than I would check to see if your synapses are firing properly.

[Luminous Animal]

36. Globally, and since the Arab Spring... yes millions...

as much as the naysayers like to imagine that OWS is a U.S. movement... it is not. OWS is part of a global movement and many of these Spring movements and Occupy movements and unnamed protest movements have 3-4 events A DAY.

[morningfog]

9. They've been great at keeping themselves and their message in the headlines.

Occupy on!

[jsmirman]

13. Oh, please. You act like Martin Luther King didn't like the sound of his own voice.

Instead they've been going out of their way to make themselves a spectacle rather than doing anything effective. And that's been a lot longer than the Oakland situation, it's almost since the beginning.

Guess what? He did.

The thing that made me different from a lot of my colleagues in the performing community of my college? I'm actually uncomfortable, by and large, with that sort of attention. Now some of them are on Broadway, some tried and failed, I never tried and never would have wanted to.

Protest movements will always draw, at minimum, a healthy percentage of people who want to be the center of attention.

That doesn't mean a fucking thing about whether what they are actually protesting about is valid or not. You don't have to want to marry or go on a road trip with an occupier. Just figure out what your take is on what they seem to stand for or say they stand for and go from there.

[2pooped2pop]

14. why the fuck do you care?

Really! Your boss does not get Occupy support. He must be a loser. Let the flag go Wraith, Let it go! ANother flag will step up to wave another day. It's all ok.

[deutsey]

28. Yep...China mass produces lots of US flags! n/t

[11 Bravo]

3. OK. We'll get back to you.

[NewEngland4Obama]

4. Here ya go (Occupy Providence)

http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-29/news/30676412_1_protesters-day-center-park-encampment

As Occupy Providence pulls up its last tent stake after more than 100 days in a public park downtown, it does so with a distinction among Occupy Wall Street affiliates: It demanded its city government do more to help the needy, and won.

A day center to serve the city’s homeless population during the winter opened Friday in south Providence. Protesters had made such a facility a condition of their departure from Burnside Park.

[sabrina 1]

8. Don't worry, only a few people are obsessed with the negative. The issues that created this

movement are far too serious to allow a few naysayers to stop it.

Watch out for the many planned events upcoming this Spring.

[2pooped2pop]

15. I can't wait!

Hoping to make it to the G8 and DC at least. It's going to be huge!

[Populist_Prole]

11. Like the media will ever let that happen....

But I hear ya' man. I wish it were so.

[julian09]

12. Election year ploy

Do something useful that will accomplish bringing in a congress that will work for the 99 percent. The investigation won't bring home values up, jobs, fairness, end wars, tax reform etc. Focus on a few things and try to make them happen instead of squandering this opportunity on being satisfied just being a nusance.

[2pooped2pop]

16. and what is it that you have done

to change the world today?

[julian09]

18. donated to Elizabeth Warren

[2pooped2pop]

23. Elizabeth is worthy

If only we had a whole shitload of officials just like her. I have not donated to her, but I just might.

[sabrina 1]

17. You mean we haven't been doing all that every single year already? So, since we have,

what have we accomplished? Where are the jobs, fairness, end of wars, tax reform etc? Weren't we told this exact thing right before every single election over the past ten years and long before that?

Maybe the people feel that their involvement in the process has accomplished very little and the reason for that being, that our whole system has been taken over by the 1%, bought and paid for??

Or do you think that all that money is buying elections so that they will work for the 99%?

[julian09]

21. Not news that the congress is bought

all the more reason to throw them out, on their voting record, not just because we didn't get what we wanted. They only have one vote per issue, he may have voted right but others didn't vote WITH HIM. It would be important to get legislators who have OWS goals into position to change things. Being cynical won't solve the problem. Being as dedicated as the 1% the 99% has the votes to win.

[sabrina 1]

38. Which is why this movement exists. Why do you think that most truly progressive candidates

we supported but who were not receiving Wall St. money, could not defeat the Blue Dogs/DLCers/Third Wayers up to now? What difference does it make to a good candidate when his/her opponent is showered with Wall St. money?

This movement is educating people on who is going to be working for them and who is not. In each Dist. now, we can send up fliers showing who is receiving Wall St. money, and that gives the progressive, non-Wall St. candidate a better chance. But without this movement putting those memes into the political dialogue, things would remain, as you just pointed out, as they were.

Which is why we are dedicated to making sure that people know who is getting Wall Street money and who is not in the next election. I have already found out that many people were not even aware of this aspect of the system. And it sure made them look at the candidates in a very different way and explained why the ones they supported, did not make it. And why they should not give money to the Party but rather to the individual candidates.

But this movement was badly needed and hopefully it is not too late as the 1% pretty much controls almost all of our government at this point. Rooting them out will not be easy.

[ananda]

19. I so hear that!

Imagine the 1%er glee at OWSers turning on their own movement.