OWS—A Fetid Exercise in Futility
Public protests are a standard component of political life in the United States. When the message is clear, wholesome, and civilly expressed, they can have a profound and positive effect on government. The most recent evidence of this is, of course, the Tea Party movement, which produced a bloodless revolution in the halls of legislatures around the country and pretty much sealed the electoral fate of Barack Obama and his collectivist colleagues.
The future of the recent rash of protest is less rosy. Following in the futile footsteps of European protesters, this untidy lot seems completely unfocused as to both ends and means. Some sounds and signs suggest the use of force, but the general loutishness of the groups shows no promise of success in that department. There are other indications that we're in a Woodstock-style time warp but without the flowers to stem the stench of the groups' irresponsible habits.
About the only thing that is clear is that the mob is frustrated and angry, both with government and the private sector. Any community organizer knows know that these targets are much diffuse and widespread to risk any significant harm to either as a result of the protests.
The real object of the anger and frustration is, of course, the protesters themselves. Although they do not look or sound terribly bright on average, they probably know in their hearts if not their minds that there is a direct connection between work and reward, that sooner or later they're going to have to pay for their own drinks, and that, contrary to suggestions made in a post on this subject coming from the West Coast, salaries are best set by market forces rather than by Open Salon commentators, and the U.S. Constitution nowhere guarantees citizens the right to live in San Diego.
Ironically, despite their opposite characteristics, OWS and the Tea Party may well accomplish consonant objectives. There is mounting evidence that the unfocused ends and unsavory means of OWS are having a repellant effect on those on the left and center-left that might well have adopted a more progressive/liberal position had they been more seductively and sanitarily approached.
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baltimore aureole
David McClain
Bruce Majors
Arthur Louis
Stephen Guy Hardin
natalia pizano
Salon.com
Comments
It might be nice for some of these groups to meet up and have a go at solving some of this country's problems since the sold-out members of Congress have little motivation to do anything other than line their pockets these days, regardless of their political party affiliations.
Occupy Wall Street is now taking up the anti-bank crusade from a leftist perspective. It certainly shares a healthy distrust of the Federal Reserve Board, as we all know that the FRB is virtually identical to the banks. In many respect OWS and the TP are in actual agreement. They are opposed to the centrist way of doing business as usual.
When both sides realize that they can work strategically together on issues like the FRB, war in Afghanistan, and drug policy, they will effectively carry off the military term of force multiplication, and then perhaps real change will take place in this country.
Rated.