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!