"Awareness is empowering."

[mzflux]

Occupy Wall Street: Changing the Topic
By Peter Dreier, E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics, Occidental College

Posted: 11/1/11 10:26 AM ETThe Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement has changed our national conversation. At kitchen tables, in coffee shops, in offices and factories, and in newsrooms, Americans are now talking about economic

Comments

[chaya]

A+ graphs.

(and disregard previous comment re: tags - not sure why they weren't showing)

[mzflux]

No worries.

[mzflux]

No and it's not over yet. You have to keep in mind, we're only two months into the movement. These things take time, energy, and dedication.

This isn't a matter of "attention raising", as you put it, but rather a matter of raising awareness. The movement is still expanding. Your comment seems a little odd. MLK's 1963 March on Washington, while definitely a good thing, was certainly not enough. It's what followed afterward: a long process of boycotts, sit-ins, protests, and other forms of civil disobedience. A movement like this requires both solidarity and passion to fuel it for years.

It's never enough. That's why you persevere.

(Sorry, I'm a compulsive editor.)

[mzflux]

but the majority of people I know who are involved in this movement...seem to think that sleeping outside is enough

I'm sorry, but I don't believe you. I've been heavily involved with Occupy Oakland, Occupy San Francisco, and Occupy Sacramento. We have been organizing boycotts, sit-ins, teach-ins, marches. We are two months in and you are already losing enthusiasm. Sounds like maybe you should branch off and start a separate occupation, perhaps one that is primarily focused on women's issues.

This might encourage you. Corporate owned media loves to focus on the few acts of vandalism on the banks committed by 40-50 black bloc anarchists, but this is what Occupy Oakland achieved last week, on Wednesday. We shut down the fifth largest port in the Unites States. Conservative estimates start at 10,000 people. On-site reporters estimate there were up to 100,000 people. The last general strike in Oakland was over 65 years ago.

Those aren't cars you're seeing. Those are people.

thanks

[yuss]

for interesting info

For Russia it is especially actual

[erunamiryene]

I'm rolling at the "charts n shit" tag. XD

[world_dancer]

I somehow doubt they've changed the conversation at home. Most people I know have been upset about the economic inequality since the Wall Street Bailouts.

OWS has changed the conversation in public, and particularly in the news. Which is still an important achievement.

[mzflux]

Doubt away.

POLITICO: Income gap slips into GOP talk

This is just the beginning. Really.