[P2P-F] Thoughts on OWS

Wed Nov 30 16:11:27 CET 2011

Hi Natalie,

I also suggest that the OWS movement has already been a huge success. It 
has brought the question of the distribution of wealth onto the 
political agenda where it simply wasn't before. Previously, all 
political discussion of wealth has been about total national wealth - 
not its distribution. Now it's an issue for 99% of voters.

You say, "the energy is spent on housekeeping issues - not political 
pressure" - however, those housekeeping issues are implicitly political. 
What they're achieving is developing expertise and capacity to maintain 
shared public living spaces and forums which operate outside 
conventional economic models and dominant value systems. They show that 
alternatives are possible.

I wonder whether more coherent, more focused protest and political 
action might actually effect fewer changes.

Best Regards,

James
=====

On 30/11/11 08:21, Michel Bauwens wrote:
> hi Natalie, it must be hard to see, but at the same time, one has to 
> think about the extraordinary achievements in such a short time ... 
> building a movement is never going to be a walk in the park!
>
> On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 11:29 PM, Natalie Golovin <10natalie at cox.net 
> <mailto:10natalie at cox.net>> wrote:
>
>     I was so enthused-sent money-wanted to help-wanted to get support
>     from other groups to magnify political power. What’s happening??
>     I believe the strategy needs to be reworked.
>     The entire Occupy idea hasn’t been very successful. If you have a
>     campsite- as time passes, the energy is spent on housekeeping
>     issues-not political pressure. Issues revert to games with police
>     & maintenance. Distractions & bad actors within the camps alienate
>     off-site supporters.  Start over in the spring with new & vibrant
>     messages. Attack responsible parties-The FED-Treasury-SEC-Fannie &
>     Freddie-enough 4 starters. One huge march @ a time-revolving-with
>     an agreed-upon demand (just 1) & focusing on failures & evil
>     actors at each station. Wall Street is powerless without
>     politicians enabling them!!
>     I drove by our local pathetic group today- that had been moved to
>     the sidewalk & got really angry & teary. It doesn’t have to end
>     this way-Does it??
>
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James Wallbank
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