"Taking to the Streets" -- Yes or No?

[snot]

Recently, I've seen several posts or replies saying the solution is for sufficient numbers of us to take to the streets demanding real change.

First, pls READ, or at least scan, the full article linked to in this recent DU post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7081655 .

I've both participated in and organized demos during the last several years, and followed news about authorities' actions re- demos at, e.g., the RNC, etc.; and I nonetheless found the foregoing v. informative.

Second, I seem to recall reading somewhere that more people participated in protests against the Iraq war BEFORE IT EVEN BEGAN than demonstrated against the Viet Nam War for its entire duration. I would appreciate any confirm or disconfirm, preferably with a citation to authority/source for the info.

Given the above, it seems only too obvious that "taking to the streets" has been, for lack of a better word, at least partially castrated -- through what should have been ruled unConstitutional quarantining, coupled with non-coverage by our conservatively-owned media.

If you protest and no one sees it, did it really happen?

SERIOUSLY, are there, or can we invent, other strategies?