Bill Moyers- 'occupy the nominating process'

[Ichingcarpenter]

Q: The people behind the Occupy Wall Street protests and the tea party seem to present a similar message, even though they are quite different on a social and personal level. The tea party folks have had some political impact, while the Wall Street protesters have not yet. Do you see their movement ever gaining more traction?

A: I know a lot of tea partiers. I was out listening to them and talking to them. They had a half-truth. Why do I want to put more of my taxes into a government that was serving special interests? They understood that. The other side says we have to have a safety net. The two sides can't get together. The populist movement (of the tea party) was taken over and co-opted by corporate interests. It's hard to retain fiery indignation and independence when that happens. I don't think Occupy Wall Street will have the influence they want unless they do what the tea party did and take over the nominating process. Unless they do, they will never have the satisfaction that they want and that the civil rights movement, say, had back in the 1950s and '60s. These people are not going to have long-ranging effect unless they have a party to act on their interests. They need to become a political movement instead of a grievance committee.




Much more from Bill

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/PBS-host-Moyers-says-government-failing-Americans-2267581.php

[shraby]

1. One additional thought...in the 60s the federal goverment

reined in the states ability to use the police to abuse the protestors by using the national guard to guard the citizens and escort the children to their schools.
Until the feds step in now, the OWS groups will continue to be disabused of their civil rights. Those rights need to be protected by the federal government.
Jack and Bobby recognized this and supported the civil rights movement because it was the right thing to do.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. I agree and Bill added this

Q: In spite of your grim assessment of current political and economic realities, you say that you are ever optimistic. Why?

A: I don't know how to live in this world without expecting a more confident future and doing something every morning to try to bring it about. I think that is motivating folks down on Wall Street and across the nation. These protesters have put their faith in the last seemingly credible force in the world, and that's each other.

[Ship of Fools]

3. Mr. Moyers let out the important fact that OWS HAS had some political

impact by changing some of the dialogue ... imo

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Occupying the voting booth is not enough

when you end up with the same shit politicians.

[Ship of Fools]

5. ... not to mention hacking and other games the opposition play with those booths ...

i.e. Harris of Florida and the female clerk in Wisconsin (also named Katherine)?

Sheesh.