The 1 percent celebrate. For now.

[PETRUS]

They overran Zuccotti Park, but stopping a movement gone viral won't be so easy

<snip>

Since September they have been deviled by a genuine mass movement that has stripped the facade off their democracy. The 1 percent could no longer deny that it was the reverse-Robin Hood system they had created that diverted wealth upward while denying tens of millions full-time employment and healthcare, leaving people mired in poverty, and homeless or in foreclosure.

Within a few weeks of the beginning of Occupy Wall Street the 1 percent had already lost the debate. The movement of the 99 percent has put a public face on extreme suffering in a land of extreme wealth.


http://www.salon.com/2011/11/16/the_1_celebrates_for_now/singleton

More at the link.

[brooklynite]

1. So you're saying that the 1% are suppressing dissent...

...by cleaning up the park and then letting the protestors back in to continue dissenting? Pretty craft strategy.

[PETRUS]

2. I'm saying people might want to read this article.

[brooklynite]

5. ,,,and I'm saying the article is a little over the top...

Personally, I think the Financial Sector and the Republican Party are largely ignoring the protests as reflected by encampments. The pressure on the Occupy sites has come from local officials, mostly Democrats, dealing with local laws on property access, health, fare safety, traffic and related issues.

The big wigs ARE paying attenting to legitimate actions such as Bank Transfer Day, and the WILL pay attention to the impact of protestors on upcoming elections if the protestors organize themselves (like the Tea Party did) and work to elect candidates that support them.

[blindpig]

8. Would that be Democratic Party candidates?

Because truthfully, I don't think you're gonna see that. And if ya do it will be an attempt to coopt else the movement will have already lost any relevance and it won't matter. The Democratic Party is fully supportive of the capitalists and capitalism is the problem.

[brooklynite]

9. In which case, HOW exactly are the Protestors going to achieve change?

[PETRUS]

13. Stepwise. "We make the road by walking."

[brooklynite]

15. Thanks for an aphorism that tells me nothing

[PETRUS]

16. Study history for clues.

And I can help interpret the quote for you. It suggests that circumstances change, and the details of a long effort cannot be accurately described in advance.

[blindpig]

17. By growing the movement into a national mass organization.

It should be quite clear by now that we are achieving nothing at the ballot box. Both parties live on the false assumption that they are the only alternative. Therefore politics by other means are required.

[PETRUS]

18. That's it.

I would concentrate on education and outreach for now, which seem to be the themes anyway.

[brooklynite]

19. and those "other means" would be what?

We live in a political structure governed by a Constitution that determines how policy decisions are made. If you assume that you'll be using this political structure, then you need to get people elected who will support your policies. If you assume you're replacing this political structure, I'd really like to understand what you're thinking of.

[PETRUS]

10. I gathered that's what you meant.

And while I am strongly supportive of OWS, I have to admit the opening paragraph ("Right now in executive suites, political chambers and police command centers the 1 percent are cheering. They are slapping backs, grinning from ear to ear and bursting with delight.") is just colorful speculation.

But most of the rest of the article is pretty sober.

The PTB are NOT ignoring the protests. (The signs are there that it bothers them, although I'm not in a position to gauge how fearful they are.) But nor have the protests forced any real changes. That's not surprising. The protests have taken aim at a big target. Even narrow issue-oriented protests don't achieve policy victories quickly.

[deutsey]

3. Well, it's a more controlled form of dissent, ala "1st Amendment zones"

Whereas what was there before was not controlled or condoned by the offical power structure.

[backtoblue]

4. Does cleaning include

the destruction of electrical devices, tents, sleeping bags, etc.? The protesters didn't even get a chance to take their possessions, as their camp was raided in the early morning hours.

[liberal N proud]

6. +1

[Champion Jack]

7. +++++

[redqueen]

11. Cleaning also requires you remove the freedom of the press.

And also close the airspace so not even news copters can cover it.

[RandiFan1290]

14. You mocked OWS from the start

and said they wouldn't last through the weekend (9/17/11)

Since then it's spread all over the world. :hi:

[lunatica]

12. This article was written by an Occupy Wall Street Journal co-founder

At the end of the article is this:

Arun Gupta, a New York writer and co-founder of Occupy the Wall Street Journal, is reporting for Salon from occupation sites all over the United States