General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWatch The Wrath of Occupy live
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/01/watch-live-may-day-occupy-protests/and see the determination chiseled into/onto their faces by the power of justice and unity, and of course, the successes they've already enjoyed.
The Occupy Wall Street movements success can be measured in part by how public opinion has changed about such issues as corporate profits, widening inequality and excessive executive compensation. By last December, two months after the first occupations at Zuccotti Park, 77 percent of Americansand 53 percent of Republicansagreed that there is too much power in the hands of a few rich people and corporations, according to a Pew Research Center survey. The Pew study also found that 61 percent of Americans believe that the economic system in this country unfairly favors the wealthy and that 57 percent think that wealthy people dont pay their fair share of taxes. Most of these people wont be found protesting in the streets, but the nations changing mood clearly influences what candidates for office and elected officials think they need to do to satisfy public opinion.
http://www.thenation.com/article/167611/activists-breathe-new-life-may-day
I wonder what flip flops in terms of policy or focus they'll cause in the politcal class and world going forward, and especially now that all the austerity programs here and there have turned into such flops?
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)Since many of those austerity programs were enacted after raging protects, and that austerity is still being applied in ever increasing levels across Europe, US, and individual states... I'm thinking that THEY are perfectly pleased and the only likely change that will occur is the level of military and police used to squelch the masses' ability to effect any change.
But hey, I'm feeling cynical today, and truly hope to be wrong.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)they were back then also, but as the demands grew, and no matter how brutally they were treated, the people did not give up. Neither will these people. It is a movement for equality for all people. Every human being has a right to earn a decent living and to be able to provide for their families.
This might be the biggest and the longest struggle yet, as it is for every single human being in the world. But if they are united, there are far more of us than there are of them, and they wrong.
So don't give up, just don't expect miracles. You are right, they will fight hard to maintain their wonderfully privileged lives and they own law enforcement. But this country was founded by a ragtag army that defeated a powerful Empire. If people are motivated, united, determined and passionate, AND right, they will prevail, imo!
Lionessa
(3,894 posts)What we will experience isn't anything akin to what happened back then, with drone strikes, and massive control through heat and sound machines, and huge prisons to put so many in, and even more detention centers being built.
I hope I'm wrong, I hope someone in charge will really make a difference, like maybe instead of just talking, Buffett could hire some security personnel to protect the protesters, or something. But until some at the top do more than talk, and those that aren't already un- or under-employed go to the occupations and actually strike (which as a nation isn't happening this time any more than when it was called for last summer)..... oh, nevermind, I just don't see it happening in my lifetime being a bit old, and today I'm feeling so much more cynical as I see that the world is continuing mostly the same as any other day, not much being disrupted by the general strike from where I'm sitting.
I mean Greece has a general strike and it sounds like the whole country pretty much came to a stop, here a general strike inconveniences a few metro areas, whooptido.
I've always taken the long view and never seek immediate gratification.
On the matter you raise, I'm thinking that the worst of it is likely over, given how much it's becoming clear they overplayed their hands. for examples http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57424687/nyc-officials-sue-police-over-response-to-protests/
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/01/11482075-overwhelming-military-type-response-report-criticizes-oakland-police-handling-of-occupy-protests
The thing is, this pres race and the personification of the problem in Romney is only gonna serve to give volume to the OWS voice and message, and as long as they stay mostly peaceful, much more of that kinda stuff is only gonna get them more sypmpathy, empathy, which will only add to that voice and message volume.
Brutality may work in the short run to some extent, but in the long run it is pretty much an admission of failure, and only a delaying of the inevitablity of the failure and replacement of those who use it.