Saturday, October 01, 2011

Can "Occupy Wall Street" Revive Left Activism?

Posted by Mickey Z on 10/01 at 07:44 PM

  2. Oh shit...now what?

    Greets to all to come…

    I am hoping that maybe the concept that socialism isn’t a dirty word might be making an appearance sometime imminently…

    Very busy - mayhem in the indie movie world is keeping me away, but I will be back soon.

    Posted by subgenius from hell-A  on  10/01  at  11:44 PM

  3. Actually a surprising amount of positive comments at NY Times.

    heh captcha sez “movement” smile

    Posted by subgenius from hell-A  on  10/01  at  11:50 PM

  4. dunno what happened there...try 2…

    Actually a surprising amount of positive comments at NY Times.

    captcha now sez “part” - as in take......

    Posted by subgenius from hell-A  on  10/01  at  11:51 PM

  5. hhhmmmm.....
    Rock the Revolution with Ron Paul?
    http://www.rocktherevolutiontour.com/#!bands

    Hes looking a bit like a cross between George Burns and George Carlin here.

    Posted by Frances from coastal bc  on  10/02  at  12:45 AM

  6. I am suspicious of Ron Paul, but then I am suspicious of anybody INSIDE the system - and despite “maverick” media persona, he is still inside the system.

    The system IS the issue, globally. The only way it will work in the longer term, even potentially the NEAR term, is a total rebuild...placing environment #1 and dismantling economics as currently “understood”.

    “Jobs” as currently defined make no sense going forward. It’s all about a better life with less “stuff”. This IS most definitely possible, just problematic in that it needs a radical change of perspective and skillset - both of which are so deeply embedded in the Western mindset it is close to impossible to see a smooth transition.

    Posted by subgenius from hell-A  on  10/02  at  01:03 AM

  7. Can Occupy Wall Street revive left activism? The challenge will be to develop strong leadership with clearly defined goals while remaining open and inclusive.
    Without leadership I think OWS will most likely just peter out or be co-opted by another Obama-style hope and changester...see #4

    Posted by Frances from coastal bc  on  10/02  at  01:06 AM

  8. subgenius I am in complete agreement...well said

    Posted by Frances from coastal bc  on  10/02  at  01:08 AM

  9. Hi all, I’ve been listening to Howard Zinn’s “People’s History of the United States”, He explains how a Movement to occupy and halt Washington, sit on the airport runways etc, was morphed into MLK’s march-speeches-go home...after the White House got involved.

    The current powers are experts at staying in power. Question everything, they’re already working on plans A-Z to bring you down.

    Posted by Rick (the Cartoonist) from England  on  10/02  at  06:38 AM

  10. Hello friends. Yes, the Brooklyn Bridge event may be crucial. The cops set up the protestors and even the NY Times reported so (before literally changing the story 20 minutes later). The question remains: Will the arrests scare away those who might join in or will the obvious duplicity inspire those who might have believed the cops are on our side?

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  10/02  at  06:46 AM

  11. That said, you guys know me so you know I’m skeptical. Obama’s team is working overtime right now to figure out how to co-opt the movement.

    Still, I wrote my latest article not out of false hope but rather because I see no value in expressing my concern that this will fizzle.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  10/02  at  06:48 AM

  12. Just added one of Rick’s cartoon’s to the main post.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  10/02  at  09:47 AM

  13. Congratulations to all of the protesters.  Finally - this should have happened years ago.

    As Juliann Assange said: “...We all live only once so we are obligated to make good use of the time we have and to do something meaningful… and I enjoy crushing bastards, so it is enjoyable work...”.

    Posted by RMJ from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqtrs  on  10/02  at  10:29 AM

  14. RMJ...it should have happened 200 years ago.

    Holding flags cause we have the freedom to starve americans, allow the medical profession to kill people, imprison people, execute people, bomb the hell out of numerous countries simultaneously, kill our neighbors emotionally, psychologically, shunning people, denying their existence.

    Protests need to happen in all 53 states
    simultaneously...however, the killers, the exterminators have lots of ammo and they enjoy killing. And it all pisses me off!

    Posted by Joe of Maine from The Window  on  10/02  at  04:35 PM

  15. The energy and spontaneity of OWS is admirable, but I’m stuck on the “How do we put the fear of Marx into them?” angle. I really like the “We are the 99%” motto. It has legs, a hook, and all kinds of room to grow. I lusted after some stink bombs tossed at those balcony champagne-swillers. Or worse.

    Today I was at an event for legalizing cannabis in Washington state. It’s planned as a ballot initiative for 2012 and the fundamentals look good. Not exactly opposing the nerve center of social and environmental destruction, but pretty good for Seattle.

    joe with the QOTD: “Protests need to happen in all 53 states...”

    Posted by Zen Prole from Pac NW  on  10/02  at  11:01 PM

  16. How do I get the info in the form here locked in so that I don’t have to retype it every time I am here???  I lost it now that I am using another computer.

    I am in the dead zone.  Only 33 Vermonters have logged on to even comment on the OWS.  No action here. VT needs a protest more than anywhere. Some time see the photo of Dennis Steele being arrested. He was a candidate in the last election. Good photo of the arrest is up on the web. He was my favorite candidate… a very inspirational Native American, environmentalist, peace and justice advocate. The powers that be had to silence him and everyone else who does not conform to the dem/repub party line.

    I hope the heroes of Wall Street never give up - not until Capitalism is defeated.

    Posted by RMJ from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqtrs  on  10/03  at  01:09 PM

  17. Hi RMJ. I was at OWS again yesterday and was asked to write for their newspaper: The Occupied Wall Street Journal.

    There is an “Occupy Vermont” movement so you may wanna start a Facebook page just to get involved. It’s worth it, I’d say:

    P.S. There’s a place to click below that reads: Remember my personal information

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  10/03  at  01:18 PM

  18. Thanks Mickey...I have been keeping up by going to the OWS site on CD - not on Facebook. Every state has a designated place to comment.  I blogged a comment on Occupy Vermont yesterday. So far only 33 VTrs have commented.

    Slow dial-up limits what my computer can do so I am not on Facebook. Maybe after I get some of the glitches out of the new system…

    DN mentioned The Occupied Wall Street Journal today.  Sounds great.  You will be a big asset.  Keep things going until Capitalism is wiped from the planet. You can do it!!!  Also, it might help if the protest included a recognition of what the USA has been doing all around the world for decades.  I have not been seeing much of that. It would put the protest on a higher international moral plane. I wish I was there with you. I wonder how all of this will affect the Oct6 DC protest? Also, can the ban on tents be considered to be harrassment? Those in power will try to make it as difficult as possible - as usual, freedom of expression is a myth. The police should be joining in and encouraging the democratic process, but this is the U$A…

    Posted by RMJ from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqtrs  on  10/03  at  02:27 PM

  19. There needs to be a counter plan to approach THEIR counter move and ulterior motives.

    Can’t have old fashioned stimuli response. The barbarians are manipulators and profiteers and are well armed and are also assholes, degenerates.

    Posted by Joe of Maine from The Window  on  10/03  at  04:00 PM

  20. Great article, Mickey.  I was there as well yesterday, but I didn’t get there til late in the evening.

    Posted by Charles from Jersey City  on  10/03  at  04:11 PM

  21. Great to see the OWS movement is gaining in power.  Being arrested is not the worse thing that can happen. Being silent is. SILENCE IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.  Being arrested can be a very successful tactic… especially if the number of those arrested is large.  Imagine putting thousands on Trial.  What a message that would send to others in the US and elsewhere.

    Posted by RMJ from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqtrs  on  10/04  at  10:17 AM

  22. Hi all,
    Does anyone have a good source of information about whats really going on in Libya? I am confused by contradictory reports. Much appreciated.

    Posted by Frances from coastal bc  on  10/04  at  12:12 PM

  23. Hello everyone…

    Frances: http://killinghope.org/bblum6/aer97.html

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  10/04  at  12:21 PM

  24. That is a very good one from Bill Blum.

    captcha says “law”...tell that to the prez, the police, the politicians…

    Posted by RMJ from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqtrs  on  10/04  at  01:36 PM

  25. Thanks for the good direction Mickey.
    RMJ, not too sure there will be many trials for arrested protesters. At the G20 protests in Toronto thousands of people were arrested and held for 3 or 4 days and then released with no charges, effectively cutting off any possibility of the arrested protesters addressing the matter of civil rights violations...no charges equals no trial.
    It seems the mass arrest of protesters is more about squelching dissent and discouraging people from joining in peaceful protest.

    Posted by Frances from coastal bc  on  10/04  at  03:08 PM

  26. edit above ...joining in their lawful right to peaceful protest and civil disobedience.

    Posted by Frances from coastal bc  on  10/04  at  03:10 PM

  27. Thanks, everyone.

    A new post is now up: new article and lots of photos.

    See you there.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  10/04  at  05:05 PM

  28. Derrick Jensen talks to occupy DC

    Posted by subgenius from hell-A  on  10/09  at  02:15 AM

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