The Future of #OCCUPY
ADBUSTERS TACTICAL BRIEFING
The initial phase of the #OCCUPY movement was marked by several weeks of viral growth that peaked on October 15 with a global day of action. In the next phase, there will be a turn towards addressing the deep philosophical and strategic questions of how to escalate this democracy moment into a revolutionary people's movement. Across the nation there are clear signs that the #OCCUPY movement is simultaneously maturing and growing more militant.
Of the many questions swirling around #OCCUPY, the most challenging is how to gel into a global movement without sacrificing the decentralized, leaderless model. There is a widespread acknowledgment that there are challenges that can only be dealt with on a global scale, such as a climate change accord and overturning international casino capitalism, and that we must therefore forge a globally united people's movement. However, there is also a growing recognition that the general assembly model that has worked beautifully thus far may be fundamentally limited on a structural level.
A breakthrough came on Friday from the New York City General Assembly where the structure working group has proposed, and the general assembly has accepted, the adoption of a modified spokes council model that will work in conjunction with the general assembly. This lays the foundation for a regional, national and potentially international spokes council, something that both #OCCUPYPHILLY and The 99 Percent Declaration have been pushing for. We are beginning to see how the #OCCUPY movement will elevate itself into an international force.
Meanwhile, the power center of the movement is shifting away from the East Coast towards the West. On Wednesday, #OCCUPYOAKLAND is organizing a General Strike that is already finding support within the local community. Solidarity actions are planned in occupations nationwide. Within the movement, there is a sense that this may be a turning point as militant tactics come to the fore and direct confrontation with the structures of the corporate-state becomes the norm.
Other sparks on the horizon include the November 5 Transition Day/Bank Transfer Day, the November 25 Buy Nothing Day kick off to #OCCUPYXMAS and the December 10 Global Day of Action which was proposed this week by the international network behind the blast on October 15.
Hang in there!
for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
370 comments on the article “The Future of #OCCUPY”
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Doctoroswald
Eff yeah! Greed is cool! Murder is cool! Regurgitating Implanted principles and worldviews you claim to have examined and espoused, but were actually sold to your drone-ass are cool!
THE MOVEMENT IS NOT ABOUT REDISTRIBUTION OF YOUR DIRTY PHYSICAL WEALTH
THE MOVEMENT IS ABOUT REDISTRIBUTING THE POWER EVENLY AMONGST THE PEOPLE
Doctoroswald
Eff yeah! Greed is cool! Murder is cool! Regurgitating Implanted principles and worldviews you claim to have examined and espoused, but were actually sold to your drone-ass are cool!
THE MOVEMENT IS NOT ABOUT REDISTRIBUTION OF YOUR DIRTY PHYSICAL WEALTH
THE MOVEMENT IS ABOUT REDISTRIBUTING THE POWER EVENLY AMONGST THE PEOPLE
Anonymous
That's okay. I see you do not understand the problem.
1. It's socialsim for the rich. This is evident in the $700 billion of taxpayers money that was taken from us, the 99% of us, our taxpayer dollars, and given to the wealthy in 2008--the Wall Street institutions, the 1%. That was a socialistic redistribution of the wealth from the poorest of us to the wealthiest of us. This was not their money or theirs to have. But socialistic redistribtuion of the wealth downwards never happens. Not even when it would be the ethical, merciful thing to do.
2. It's democracy for the rest of us. 1 person 1 vote. The 1% knows this and exploits it completely.
Now do you get it? Socialism for the rich, democracy for the rest of us.
It is not ethical for the wealthiest of the world to have 5, 6, 7 palaces and 100 times more of what they need to live well while millions of people in the world have nothing at all. Just think about this for a few years, you'll get it. Socialism for the rich, democracy for the rest of us.
Anonymous
That's okay. I see you do not understand the problem.
1. It's socialsim for the rich. This is evident in the $700 billion of taxpayers money that was taken from us, the 99% of us, our taxpayer dollars, and given to the wealthy in 2008--the Wall Street institutions, the 1%. That was a socialistic redistribution of the wealth from the poorest of us to the wealthiest of us. This was not their money or theirs to have. But socialistic redistribtuion of the wealth downwards never happens. Not even when it would be the ethical, merciful thing to do.
2. It's democracy for the rest of us. 1 person 1 vote. The 1% knows this and exploits it completely.
Now do you get it? Socialism for the rich, democracy for the rest of us.
It is not ethical for the wealthiest of the world to have 5, 6, 7 palaces and 100 times more of what they need to live well while millions of people in the world have nothing at all. Just think about this for a few years, you'll get it. Socialism for the rich, democracy for the rest of us.
Anonymous
700 Bn was NOT taken FROM the taxpayers. It was printed out of thin air from the Fed, because the taxpayers aren't paying enough to pay the bills anyway. You cannot make the claim that the taxpayers must pay that back because the way it was distributed diluted the debt so the payback value is not the lending value. It's nearly impossible to count exactly what will be paid back or by whom it will be paid back (if at all). And by the way, it wasn't TAKEN. It was GIVEN by the approval of Congress--the representatives elected by the taxpayers. If Congress were to walk up and offer you 1 Trillion, would you take it? Of course you would.
Now who doesn't understand the problem? Why is Occupy not in Washington? Why not?? Every occupier who wasn't in on the conspiracy from the start (oh yes...there is one!), should be asking themselves this question. If you want to take back the democracy, you should be slapping the hand of those that GAVE the money away. They are not on Wall Street or in the gated neighborhoods.
Anonymous
700 Bn was NOT taken FROM the taxpayers. It was printed out of thin air from the Fed, because the taxpayers aren't paying enough to pay the bills anyway. You cannot make the claim that the taxpayers must pay that back because the way it was distributed diluted the debt so the payback value is not the lending value. It's nearly impossible to count exactly what will be paid back or by whom it will be paid back (if at all). And by the way, it wasn't TAKEN. It was GIVEN by the approval of Congress--the representatives elected by the taxpayers. If Congress were to walk up and offer you 1 Trillion, would you take it? Of course you would.
Now who doesn't understand the problem? Why is Occupy not in Washington? Why not?? Every occupier who wasn't in on the conspiracy from the start (oh yes...there is one!), should be asking themselves this question. If you want to take back the democracy, you should be slapping the hand of those that GAVE the money away. They are not on Wall Street or in the gated neighborhoods.
I agree with this
This movement has much more support than its principle members may be aware of. It especially resonates with those who are fiercely independent in rural communities. That being said, these people are working people, and they are raising families. While they are supportive, they are not at this point participatory.
To me, the movement opens up a channel for Americans to voice their opinion. The two party political system funded by the wealthy simply does not allow for the voice of Americans to be heard. A plurality of citizens know this. The American electorate has grown radical because it realizes its voice is not heard no matter which avenue is taken.
Many are comfortable with OWS, and are hopeful that it will empower the people. It is dangerous however, to become too optimistic, or to stick your neck out entirely, because the forces that OWS is up against are perceived to be so strong. Indeed they are, and will be. I have no doubt that what happened in Oakland is insignificant compared to the potential violence those who stand for the status quo would be willing to inflict in the face of defeat. In fact, that is why since what happened in Oakland people have begun to lose faith in OWS. The Oakland attack proves that this is a very dangerous endeavor which the best among us have embarked on. The weak hearted among us need rallied to the cause if support is to be maintained.
Adbusters lost its way when they began advocating for the Robin Hood tax. The tax, while totally necessary, does not give voice to the concern that Americans are longing to have heard. It is, quite likely, a priority that would soon need to be addressed by the American people, once they have confidence that OWS can be successfully utilized as an avenue to have their voice heard. It goes back to the social contract. The people have the power. They gave it to the government. The government has now grown deaf to the needs of the people. The people are willing to take their power back and place it somewhere else should they find the outlet. OWS can be that outlet. First they must win the contract. Believe me, having the hope of the American people behind you should bolster those among you who are demoralized. But when you have the full faith and trust of the American people, though things will likely turn ugly, the power that you will have behind you will make change in the U.S. seem simple. Things like a Robin Hood tax will topple into place like dominoes.
I think it is indisputable that a vast majority of Americans know it was a crime to bail out the banks. Moreover, Americans aren’t entirely ignorant that the SEC did absolutely nothing to offer oversight on mortgage backed securities or trading in derivatives. Furthermore, Americans know that the deal between banks and the ratings agencies was completely fraudulent. In each of these obviously corrupt situations not a single person went to jail. My suggestion would be, do some research. Find the easy target with a lot of value and hold them up for the American people to see. Show how awfully they abused the trust that they were given. Give Americans a name. We will put him in jail. Then another, and another, until some sense of justice is received by the American people for the wrong that was allowed to be perpetrated against us. This will be step one in winning the contract.
Two. Go for the heart. Americans know that the political system is bought and paid for. But we don’t know the details as well as we should. Point the spot lights at the relationship between political contributions and the impact on policymakers. Point out the worst of the worst in congress. Make us know the names of the worst lobbyists. Show the breaks that corporations are getting regularly, those that just absolutely don’t make sense. Show how corporations are actually involved in writing self-benefitting legislation that is supposedly authored by congressmen or women. Expose the most egregious of areas concerning money funding our corrupt government, and then offer a simple alternative. One dollar One citizen One vote. All of the problems mentioned by other posters above are like leaves on the tree. The root of the problem is a political system that has been hijacked by dollars.
I don’t think you could go for this first, not because the people would want it less, but because they aren’t entirely sure they can trust OWS yet. Step one should be something the Americans are passionate about. It should be something actionable. It should be something manageable, and it should be something done so well (as OWS has managed itself thus far) that the Americans know it is the sound of their own voice they are hearing.
These things may take years to accomplish. Afterwards, I believe other seemingly insurmountable problems would fall like rain. Thanks OWS for making me believe that you are what I think you are. Thanks for changing my thinking forever. Thanks for giving me hope. Good luck, and CHARGE ON!
I agree with this
This movement has much more support than its principle members may be aware of. It especially resonates with those who are fiercely independent in rural communities. That being said, these people are working people, and they are raising families. While they are supportive, they are not at this point participatory.
To me, the movement opens up a channel for Americans to voice their opinion. The two party political system funded by the wealthy simply does not allow for the voice of Americans to be heard. A plurality of citizens know this. The American electorate has grown radical because it realizes its voice is not heard no matter which avenue is taken.
Many are comfortable with OWS, and are hopeful that it will empower the people. It is dangerous however, to become too optimistic, or to stick your neck out entirely, because the forces that OWS is up against are perceived to be so strong. Indeed they are, and will be. I have no doubt that what happened in Oakland is insignificant compared to the potential violence those who stand for the status quo would be willing to inflict in the face of defeat. In fact, that is why since what happened in Oakland people have begun to lose faith in OWS. The Oakland attack proves that this is a very dangerous endeavor which the best among us have embarked on. The weak hearted among us need rallied to the cause if support is to be maintained.
Adbusters lost its way when they began advocating for the Robin Hood tax. The tax, while totally necessary, does not give voice to the concern that Americans are longing to have heard. It is, quite likely, a priority that would soon need to be addressed by the American people, once they have confidence that OWS can be successfully utilized as an avenue to have their voice heard. It goes back to the social contract. The people have the power. They gave it to the government. The government has now grown deaf to the needs of the people. The people are willing to take their power back and place it somewhere else should they find the outlet. OWS can be that outlet. First they must win the contract. Believe me, having the hope of the American people behind you should bolster those among you who are demoralized. But when you have the full faith and trust of the American people, though things will likely turn ugly, the power that you will have behind you will make change in the U.S. seem simple. Things like a Robin Hood tax will topple into place like dominoes.
I think it is indisputable that a vast majority of Americans know it was a crime to bail out the banks. Moreover, Americans aren’t entirely ignorant that the SEC did absolutely nothing to offer oversight on mortgage backed securities or trading in derivatives. Furthermore, Americans know that the deal between banks and the ratings agencies was completely fraudulent. In each of these obviously corrupt situations not a single person went to jail. My suggestion would be, do some research. Find the easy target with a lot of value and hold them up for the American people to see. Show how awfully they abused the trust that they were given. Give Americans a name. We will put him in jail. Then another, and another, until some sense of justice is received by the American people for the wrong that was allowed to be perpetrated against us. This will be step one in winning the contract.
Two. Go for the heart. Americans know that the political system is bought and paid for. But we don’t know the details as well as we should. Point the spot lights at the relationship between political contributions and the impact on policymakers. Point out the worst of the worst in congress. Make us know the names of the worst lobbyists. Show the breaks that corporations are getting regularly, those that just absolutely don’t make sense. Show how corporations are actually involved in writing self-benefitting legislation that is supposedly authored by congressmen or women. Expose the most egregious of areas concerning money funding our corrupt government, and then offer a simple alternative. One dollar One citizen One vote. All of the problems mentioned by other posters above are like leaves on the tree. The root of the problem is a political system that has been hijacked by dollars.
I don’t think you could go for this first, not because the people would want it less, but because they aren’t entirely sure they can trust OWS yet. Step one should be something the Americans are passionate about. It should be something actionable. It should be something manageable, and it should be something done so well (as OWS has managed itself thus far) that the Americans know it is the sound of their own voice they are hearing.
These things may take years to accomplish. Afterwards, I believe other seemingly insurmountable problems would fall like rain. Thanks OWS for making me believe that you are what I think you are. Thanks for changing my thinking forever. Thanks for giving me hope. Good luck, and CHARGE ON!
Anonymous
Beautiful! I agree. But how about taking the occupation to another level? How about
Occupy the Palaces? The "palaces" are now the neighborhoods with gigantic mansions of the wealthiest 1% who live in places like the Upper East Side of Manhattan, West Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, the Hamptons in New York and the businesses on Rodeo Drive, Lakeshore Drive in Chicago, etc..
Let us go out and show our numbers and our determination like the French peasants at the palace gates who protested against the king with rakes and hoes. But we must remain peaceful. Let the wealthy feel some pressure at the heart of where they live. We do not go near the infrastructure--we must keep it intact in case militant types among us get out of control. We must protect our structure that allows us to make a living, the neighborhood businesses, the mom and pop stores, our roads, bridges, power system etc. Go instead to the lovely places of the wealthy 1%--occupy outside their gated communities and their exclusive clubs and hotels, their golf courses. Let them know that we understand it is flesh and blood people behind those stock certificates, behind the corporations inc., behind the investment bankers desks etc. Let's go to these lovely places world wide and pressure them there.
Anonymous
Beautiful! I agree. But how about taking the occupation to another level? How about
Occupy the Palaces? The "palaces" are now the neighborhoods with gigantic mansions of the wealthiest 1% who live in places like the Upper East Side of Manhattan, West Palm Beach, Beverly Hills, the Hamptons in New York and the businesses on Rodeo Drive, Lakeshore Drive in Chicago, etc..
Let us go out and show our numbers and our determination like the French peasants at the palace gates who protested against the king with rakes and hoes. But we must remain peaceful. Let the wealthy feel some pressure at the heart of where they live. We do not go near the infrastructure--we must keep it intact in case militant types among us get out of control. We must protect our structure that allows us to make a living, the neighborhood businesses, the mom and pop stores, our roads, bridges, power system etc. Go instead to the lovely places of the wealthy 1%--occupy outside their gated communities and their exclusive clubs and hotels, their golf courses. Let them know that we understand it is flesh and blood people behind those stock certificates, behind the corporations inc., behind the investment bankers desks etc. Let's go to these lovely places world wide and pressure them there.
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