Earlier this week, Occupy protests erupted across the country. I'm inspired by the movement. I could smell democracy in the air last fall when young and old were peacefully standing in solidarity against income inequality. It was emblematic of the best of democracy -- ideas expressed in the public square.
When I think of what Chinese dissident Chen Chen Guangcheng had to endure just for criticizing Chinese policies -- house arrest, a flight as a blind man from brutality -- it makes me proud that in this country, we endure even uncomfortable encampments. Or we should -- even when tent cities are inconvenient, even when they invite a wide array of humanity, like a wild and beautiful garden.
I love the protest signs protected by the First Amendment -- some of them humorous, some of them passionate, some factual, some entirely incorrect -- all of them free ideas.
But there's another outgrowth of the occupy movement that isn't healthy at all -- the anarchists and violent outsiders aiming to co-opt and delegitimize the movement. Whoever they are and whatever their motive, engaging in violence is ruining a very special thing.
In some places, the violent images have overtaken the message. In some places, parents don't feel it's safe to take their children to protest.
Now, I get it -- many original occupiers believe the political system has become so corrupt that even participating in it, engaging with it, corrupts the movement. I understand what they are saying. But often, change does come more quickly from the inside rather than the outside. My advice: try both. But don't try violence.
And by the way, not engaging misses a real opportunity for change. Instead, perhaps the original Occupy movement should occupy a wing of the Democratic Party. Become an alternative to the Tea Party, as Josh Harkinson from Mother Jones has suggested. And then, once that happens, occupy the majority in Congress.
Cross-posted at "The War Room" blog. Follow Jennifer Granholm on Facebook and Twitter and War Room on Facebook and Twitter.
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If anything they should be hooking up with a party that does not accept corporate donations at all and does things differently. The Green Party would fit the ideals better than the Democratic Party. You think that Occupy will change the Democratic Party from within. I think Occupy would have the same fate as the Teaparty and become nothing more than an ineffective and neutralized force absorbed by the GOP and used as a way to gain the conservative right vote.
The Dems are afraid of losing part of their base and that is why it is suggested Occupy join with the Dems. They should be afraid. Because if the Teaparty and Occupy actually breakaway from the two party system then voters would actually have real choice, and then power would shift to the people.
That is an unrealistic expectation, especially when you consider how badly we are being used and abused by the corruption in government, and the financial system. People are p!$$ed, that's why they are protesting. Angry people sometimes do stupid things, but that shouldn't kill the main message.
All liberal talkers should turn the argument around. How about this: "add up the cost of every smashed window in the May Day protests, and it will come to a TINY FRACTION of the cost of the FRAUD committed by bank executives in the last few years." That's the kind of response we need from liberals who have a TV show - one of sustained outrage.
C'mon Gov. Grandholm, broken windows and smoke bombs draw lots of attention. Use the attention to fight back. YOU try engaging, but in a strong way that does not cede the argument because of a few broken windows, but pushes it forward.
Romney wants to eliminate Planned Parenthood and some Government Departments.He has said that everyone is a suspect in the "war on terror."What is the real terror? Is it an informed and empowered and diverse people?
Ryan's budget plan is a disaster.Democrats have been a firewall of protection with Soc Security and Medicaire.
Yes,Dems have not done all they should do but lets get more in there and more progressive Dems.We can't afford the "I'm too pure for politics" stance.OWS could be a very positive factor in the elections of 2012.
Governor Granholm, 2012
"It is difficult to see how Gandhi's methods could be applied in a country where opponents of the regime disappear in the middle of the night and are never heard of again. Without a free press and the right of assembly, it is impossible not merely to appeal to outside opinion, but to bring a mass movement into being, or even to make your intentions known to your adversary."
George Orwell, Reflections on Gandhi, 1949
That would be really dumb, since many voters, including me was looking for that breath of fresh air, a non corporate owned candidate running in the primaries.
Now, we're stuck with deciding which corporate owned candidate in the general elections is the lesser of two evils.
In the case of the presidency, it's a no brainer, since candidate Romney has said “Corporations are people, my friend...”. Want to ensure that corporate personhood can't be reversed other than by 2nd amendment remedies, then vote for Romney.
It seems to me that the Tea Party had the same problem. Yet still many on the left characterize the entire TP as being reflective of that very small, vocal minority (exactly because they ARE very vocal). Likewise, many on the right view the entire OWS as "anarchists and violent outsiders."
It's too bad more on both sides don't realize the fairly wide common ground held by the majority of each group: anti-corruption, anti-big-bank, anti-money-in-politics, anti-illegal-war, anti-globalism, etc. They could come together behind a third-party candidate, someone like Buddy Roemer (a former dem, running as a repub, but with all the above mentioned policy positions).
http://www.npr.org/2012/03/27/149480698/buddy-roemer-eyes-presidency
we need to follow the advice of our radical forebears!! We need to overwhelm the system with arrests per dr. piven. we need to prepare for the endgame as well--bill ayers idea of reeducation camps [he wanted them in the sw us---id say send them to montana!]...and serious consideration needs to be given to eliminating those who cannot be reeducated. these plans for the endgame must be developed, distributed, and commented on--maybe revised.
The thrill is gone. (And so is daddy's money.)
Early this morning, the private jets started departing, a plane leaving about every 3 minutes, many headed to St. Thomas, where so many of their mega-yachts are berthed. (2) The number of mega-yachts has increased by more than 400% in only the last fifteen years. (3)
Some people know how to live!
1. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120505/DERBY
FUN01/305050109/Kentucky-Derby-Fashion-2012-Fans-show-winning-colors
2. http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/print-edition/2012/04/20/business-takes-off-at-louisville.html?page=all
3. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25804188/ns/travel-luxury_travel/t/where-big-boys-go-berth/
The Tea Party did it "right"; the Occupy movement seems nothing more than a fraternity or sorority campout ... and ... in those few places where it has been a little more activist and a little more focused ... the scorn and bad publicity it has generated does way more harm than good. It does nothing but generate some hearty laughs among Republicans.