Monday, October 10, 2011

Occupy Wall Street





I hope Occupy Wall Street (OWS) has legs. I think it does, but am just not yet sure.

Have you seen their The Occupied Wall Street Journal yet? Here is Issue #2. Here is a picture from page one: do these folks look like deadbeats?


I am profoundly moved by all this. Our elites, mostly on the Right, have absolutely no method of understanding this, at least not at its roots. They can see it as anti-Wall Street, but have no felt sense of where the OWS energy comes from. It doesn't look like Reverend Wright's church full of anger and hatred; yet it must be the same, mustn't it?

Democrats have been a bit slow on the uptake, but beginning with Obama's words of understanding last Thursday, then Pelosi's full embrace Sunday, the DCC has moved to support the Occupation movement. In a show of extreme stupidity, Republican leaders have, to a man (no women, remember?), denounced OWS? I cannot for the life of me see why. They call themselves the 99%. They have no interest in being a "revolutionary fringe/vanguard". They are speaking for all those who have not been helped by TARP, or other bailouts. By attacking the protesters, Republicans are saying their opposition to TARP is not about the people who were not helped; it's just a continuation of their anti-big government battle in support of the moneyed interests. Dumb. Really dumb.

Democrats must not try to preempt this. OWS protesters are mad at Democrats too. The banks have not been held accountable by the Democrats, and that's an almost unforgivable screwup. So the President must not try to co`opt this movement. Support and affirm it - yes indeed. But make no moves to co`opt it. Just stand by and let insensitive Republicans skewer themselves. It's always more effective that way.

More on OWS soon.














2 comments:

  1. Great points. I agree and am also profoundly moved by this. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great! Thanks for sharing that Jim. I'm passing it along.

    ReplyDelete