Occupy Wall Street

[chris_gerrib]

So, I've said several times that I found the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement as illogical as the Tea Party movement. After reading Jim Wright's rather lengthy thoughts on the subject, I think "uneasy" is a better word. Maybe "problematic." Here's some more specific thoughts:

1) I sympathize with the OWS movement. Income inequality is real, and it certainly appears that "the fix is in" - wealthy corporations get bailed out while everybody else gets the shaft.

2) As Jim says, "OWS is opposed to unfettered business, the Tea Party opposes unfettered government. The Occupiers want business out of government, the Tea Partiers want government out of business. These things may appear similar but they are in reality Yin and Yang. The only workable way for OWS to achieve its stated goal of reining in capitalism is through more government. The only way for the Tea Party to achieve its stated goal is less government."

3) Unfettered capitalism sucks unless you're really rich - see the Gilded Age for that.

4) Where OWS is falling down is exactly where the Tea Party is most effective.
The Tea Party is trying to use the political process (AKA, "voting") to effect their changes, while the OWS movement is using unfocused protests. Unfocused protests tend to become riots, because they are unfocused.

The OWS movement needs to take a page from the Tea Party manual - focus on voting and political action, not hanging out at the park.

Comments

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I agree with that one. Without a focus, how can authorities even respond to them?

[daveon.livejournal.com]

I think when the history of this period is written, one of the questions people will as is how this lie, "The Tea Partiers believe that any American can become a Have, if only government would get out of the way." managed to become a fact.

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

It's the sign of a failed ideology. When the ideology runs out of steam, all they have left is to shout louder. When I get 'round Toit' I'll write a deep-think post to that effect.

[karenjeane.livejournal.com]

The Tea Party participants voted Republican before & after their moment in the spotlight, and it's uncertain how many people they won over to their views. Taking a page from their book would be affecting no change at all.

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

Many of the Tea Partiers sat out 2008, as they were underwhelmed by McCain. By mobilizing in 2010, they got people (Scott Walker, Rick Scott) more amenable to their ideas elected.

Like the Tea Party or not (I don't), they did move the political needle.