5 Steps for the Occupy Movement's Tomorrow
James Dugan
Jim, The PhotographerOccupy group are going into hibernation for the winter, much to the pleasure of city governments and wealthy people who have driven their Mercedes by them in the past two months. The hibernation is a natural part of the life cycle and as many of us head back to our indoor activities leaving Mother Nature to rest and rebuild, Occupy needs to refocus and strengthen with direction and vitality. Here are five crucial steps in this election year to continue a movement that has made us more aware of economic disparity, called for a more inclusive democracy and inspired a new voice in civil disobedience.
1) Create an Online Presence
A crucial part of President Obama’s ascent to the Presidential office was his grass roots campaign that capturing the interest of people under 30. Through online blogs, websites, and digital information including stories, videos and music, the community that bloomed in parks and plazas around the country will grow and inspire activism. Mobilizing the community in a loud central place will make the politicians and businesses listen and will reap the numbers that will force the powerful to listen.
2) Occupy Events
The idea of showing up for weekends and events around the country in mass numbers will cause a bigger stir. Individual cities can have mass movements and it could stir many more participants who care about the message of economic inequality. I see it as a giant flash mob of civil disobedience. If you get a text message at 3 in the morning, don’t say I didn’t warn you. You should see Occupy at sporting events, parades, malls, court cases, and political events. This will continue to make the message about reform.
3) Keeping It Regional
Occupy stirred the imagination of Americans who have lain dormant in their economic ignorance for 30 years. The power of the movement has been the idea that each city and place is important to the mission. The economic reality is real all over the world, let alone in each major city. The small market news are having a field day and saving money without expensive flights and hotel rooms. It is also causing less AP stories in our regional rags. The powerful message should not be controlled by a central market, but continued to be expressed with the regional flair of the locals.
4) Signing a Pact with a Political Party
Occupy needs to play with the Democratic machine like the Tea Party has manipulated the Republican Party. Occupy creating a pact or promise similar to the power of Grover Norquist ‘s Taxpayer Protection Pledge would work perfectly. This promise would demand Democratic politicians to refuse any law promoting corporate tax breaks and refuse to have an ounce more of the burden of this country’s finances to fall on the back of the working class. If you are voted to office by the 99%, Occupy wants accountability that you are living up to the constituency. Let them sign the pledge to get the vote and hang them out to dry if they break it. It is clear black and white in a Democratic party mired in gray areas.
5) Occupy’s Business should be Business
Occupy should support all American made products and stay with economic issues. The Democratic machine is unwieldy with social concerns and that will only hurt to splinter the growing masses. Keep it about the money. The Rich are the enemy and they have made powerful friends in Washington Politics. Occupy should continue to haunt businesses that continue to erode the economic base. The danger is that Occupy with get into the environment or healthcare cause. Occupy should create boycotts and inform the public of the unfair business tactics and surcharges. Finally, Occupy should support workers in the right to organize for better wages.
Much of the future of Occupy with happen this winter. The tents will be gone but the spirit and message will continue to spark the change needed to improve the lives of the 99%.
Reader Comments (4)
These people are idiots. May God have mercy on their soul.
Signng a pact with a political party would be a big mistake. Any one who still believes that the Democrats are less crooked than the Republicans is very naive. We need a grass roots campaign to throw all the bums out and re-elect new people with fresh ideas. The system is not working with the present administration and the Congress. And we definitely need term limits on ALL offices, federal, state and local.
Macho Man, why do you despise them?
They are not asking for anything. They accept the consequences of their actions and get arrested. They have not erupted in violence or have shown disrespect to any police or citizens. They are standing on principe that the economic prosperity of this nation is shared by a few and that capitalism should benefit all in a democracy. People have lost their homes and are struggling to pay their mortagages because of unfair business practices and uninsured securities from the banks while the government turned a blind eye and even encouraged this malicious practice while in the end saving the banks with tax payers' money.
We deserve better. We are voters and Occupy makes it a point that business and government should never again forget the people they hurt when their goal is greed and not making America a better and more secured place. Thomas Jefferson said it in the Declaration of Independence
"That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."
Tell me why you loathe them.
Jim,
I have to agree on the corruption of politics but I do not want to see a third party. I believe their is real danger in a third party, especially when it will splinter the working classes into factions, giving the wealthy a stronger hold on the law and justice system.
We can change the system in our government. We do not need money. We need information and to vote. We need to find polticians who won't sell out to greed and corporatations but will stand for the working and promote American jobs. Go ahead, try to find something in Target or Walmart this Black Friday made in America. That is what the government has done by policy.
I think a signed pact would make it clear what polticians are serious in helping government policy protect the lifestyles and freedoms of regular Americans who live paycheck to paycheck and save for retirement. We shouldn't be hoping for one lottery ticket to save us.
Thanks for the comments.