TACTICS versus STRATEGY: We Can’t Play Not to Lose
There is so much I admire about the Occupy movement. Without it’s amorphousness, without it’s puritanical simplicity when it comes to specific goals and being leaderless, it may not have had the endurance it has had… Mind you, it’s endurance has encompassed 10 weeks, but it’s impact as a demonstrative movement has surpassed the Tea Partiers and is something like we have not seen in this country in 40 some years.
I can imagine that there are several dozen talented, socially conscious and influential members of the OWS movement who are pondering the following question: What to do next?
See, 84 year old women getting pepper sprayed in Seattle is shocking, Iraq vets suffering brain damage from the Oakland police is shocking, having the rights of assembly curtailed in score of sites throughout this country… all of these cause outrage and actually increase support and sympathy for the cause of the Occupy movement.
At the same time, if these tragedies are pointless and create no change, then they are truly tragic.
The story of Mohammed Bouazizi is perhaps the most important single story of 2011. He was the Tunisian fruit merchant who, in protest of the government corruption which he was powerless to prevent while alive, proved unparalleled in his influenced in his death. He lit himself on fire, dying to spark the Arab Spring, a populist demand for change for is ongoing in another of the region of the world.
It might be hard for some Americans, we, the cradle of democracy, to recognize that the OWS movement is itself and outcrop of the Arab Spring. We’re the inspiration for freedom throughout the world, not the ones being inspired. I think who influenced who is a matter for history to decide, but the important thing is that we are getting our Mohammed Bouzizi’s in this country everyday now from Davis, Oakland and Seattle. What do we do with them?
I’m not saying anyone commit self-immolation for this movement. That said, there was a lot of power in Tunisia in the idea that Mohammed’s death would NOT to come to naught. Now is the time for us to capture that spirit it the OWS movement. Every pepper spraying, every tent ripped down, every cannister of tear gas is a little bit of Mohammed Bouzizi for America. It’s a reflection and intimation of the Kent State shootings in 1970.
Unlike the anit-war movement in the USA 40 years ago or the Arab uprisings which are ongoing, the American Occupy movements are an expression of the same tactics but without an overall strategy. The very amorphous aspect of the movement that has been a key to it’s tenacity, now, as actual political oppression exhibits itself as a reaction, becomes a risk factor to make the suffering futile and pointless. Sure, the establishment reaction to tear down the visible aspects of the OWS movement HAS resulted in increased support, but that support means nothing if something isn’t done with it.
Grandma Dorli Rainey of Occupy Seattle and Iraq Vet Sergeant Scott Olsen of Oakland will be footnotes in one of thousands of failed peasant revolt unless the Occupy movement actually gets something done.
To do that, there needs to be more than tactics. See, this movement has been great at tactics. Leaderlessness. The People’s Microphone. Simply the act of occupying without time limits. Uniting people via new media like Facebook and Twitter. Yeah. We/they got that tactics stuff down. It‘s been key to a survival.
I believe that it is now time to push for specific and actual change. Create goals. Find leaders to push those goals. We are a nation of laws. There are means by which popular movements create change and that is through the process of influencing our governance. The protests inspired and lead by MLK created the Civil Rights laws of the mid-sixties. The anti-war protests of the late 60’s spurred our withdrawal from Vietnam. Even the anti-Apartheid divestment protests of mid-80’s had a significant role in that country’s entrance in modern world a few years later.
Point being, each of these movements spurred something specific. It is time for the Occupy Movements to demand specific legislation to change the playing field of out sociopolitical environment.
If it were up to me, I’d have every march, sit in and demonstration have one simple goal: legislate Americans United. Amend the Constitution to keep corporate money out of elections!
That’s it. That the goal. That’s the best way to keep the 1% from dominating the 99%.
See, without defining a goal which would indicate success, the OWS movement can neither succeed nor can it fail. I dunno if this insulation from failure was part of their tactics to begin with, but not having a strategy also means you cannot win.
When I was in high school, in gym class, they taught us wrestling. I didn’t like losing. I found that it was very easy in wrestling to wrestle “not to lose”. A stalemate was possible every time. It’s kind of like government today. Unfortunately, it also seems to be like the tactics of the most important popular uprising of my generation.
There is too much at stake to play not-to-lose. We have to tick our necks out and try and win.
AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO KEEP CORPORATE MONEY OUT OF ELECTIONS!
That is brilliant Joko…reading this was so moving the OWS movement must continue. I am so proud of these individuals and thank you for sharing Mohammed Bouazizi story. Count me in…I’ve joined a group here in Florida. We donate to help feed the protesters and of course slam the internet, emailing to many government and official offices.
Here is a link by far whats started far as legislation…http://crooksandliars.com/tina-dupuy/occupydcs-declaration-occupation
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“The wind of change is blowing in America”….OCCU-PIE!
2011-11-18 at 03:35 pm BlogBlog RSSRSS Subscribe
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FREEBIRD
The Declaration of the Occupation of Washington, D.C.
I would first like to say before sharing this its getting really old to deny citizens their First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest! Below is a link from source and some comments made that I agree with and couldn’t said any better myself!
One of my favorite comments on this blog…….“Reading this was empowering. What a very very fine day for American and our democracy. This movement must continue to flourish. I am so proud of these folks.”
The Declaration of the Occupation of Washington, D.C. Consented to in committee
November 15th, 2011
http://gocl.me/v4uEhc
We have been captives of corrupt economic and political systems for far too long. The concentration of wealth and the purchase of political power stifle the voices of the increasingly disenfranchised 99%. Corporate dominance subverts democracy, intentionally sows division, destroys the environment, obstructs the just and equitable pursuit of happiness, and violates the rights and dignity of all life.
Occupy D.C. is an open community of diverse individuals, founded on equality for the common good. We are peaceably assembled at McPherson Square, practicing direct democracy on the doorstep of K Street, the center of destructive corporate and governmental relationships. We insist that our political and economic systems serve the people’s interests. Now is the time to advance and complete the struggles of those who came before us.
We are assembled because…
It is absurd that The 1% has taken 40% of the nation’s wealth through exploiting labor, outsourcing jobs, and manipulating the tax code to their benefit through special capital tax rates and loopholes. The system is rigged in their favor, yet they cry foul when anyone even dares to question their relentless class warfare.
Candidates in our electoral system require huge sums of money to be competitive. These contributions from multi-national corporations and wealthy individuals destroy responsive representative governance. A system of backroom deals, kickbacks, bribes, and dirty politics overrides the will of the people. The rotation of decision-makers between the public and private sectors cultivates a network of public officials, lobbyists, and executives whose aligned interests do not serve the American people.
The entrenched 2-party system overlooks public interests by pursuing narrow political goals. This climate encourages candidates to polarize voters for individual power and personal gain. Citizens’ meaningful input has been compromised by gerrymandering, voter disenfranchisement, and unresponsive politicians. Residents of Washington DC continue to lack autonomy and legislative representation.
Those with power have divided us from working in solidarity by perpetuating historical prejudices and discrimination based on color of skin, perceived race, immigrant or indigenous status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability, among other things.
Corporations broke the financial system by gambling with our savings, property, and economy. They needed the public to bail them out of their failures yet deny any responsibility and continue to fight oversight. They loot from those whose labor creates society’s prosperity, while the government allows them to privatize profits and socialize risk.
Corporate interests threaten life on Earth by extracting and burning fossil fuels and resisting the necessary transition to renewable energy. Their drilling, mining, clear-cutting, overfishing, and factory farming destroys the land, jeopardizes our food and water, and poisons the soil with near impunity. They privilege polluters over people by subsidizing fossil fuels, blocking investments in clean energy and efficient transportation, and hiding environmental destruction from public oversight.
Private corporations, with the government’s support, use common resources and infrastructure for short-term personal profit, while stifling efforts to invest in public goods.
The U.S. government engages in drawn-out, costly conflicts abroad. These operations are often pursued to control resources, needlessly overthrow foreign governments, and install friendly regimes. These wars destroy the lives of American soldiers and innocent civilians and are a blank check to divert money from domestic priorities.
Government authorities cultivate a culture of fear to invade our privacy, limit assembly, restrict speech, and deny due process. They have failed in their duty to protect our rights. Exacerbated by profiteering interests, the criminal justice system has unfairly targeted underprivileged communities and outspoken groups for prosecution rather than protection.
Corporatized culture warps our perception of reality. It cheapens and mocks the beauty of human thought and experience, while promoting excessive materialism as the path to happiness. The corporate news media furthers the interests of the very wealthy, distorts and disregards the truth, and confines our imagination of what is possible for ourselves and society.
Leaders are trading our access to basic needs in exchange for handouts to the ultra-wealthy. Our rights to healthcare, education, food, water, and housing are sacrificed to profit-driven market forces. They are attacking unemployment insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, creating an uncertain future for us all.*
A better world is possible. To all people,
We, the Washington D.C. General Assembly occupying K Street in McPherson Square, urge you to assert your power.
Exercise your right to peaceably assemble and reclaim the commons. Re-conceive ways to build a democratic, just, and sustainable world.
To all who value democracy, we encourage you to collaborate, and share available resources. We stand with you in solidarity.
*These grievances are not all inclusive.
Wasn’t that very encouraging. I like to see WTF Fox news would have to say now to their viewers….the usual Pied Piper routine no doubt!
Here are the other comments made about this blog worth sharing……..
We are not against Government, we are against CORRUPTION in Government.
We are not against Capitalism, we are against CORRUPTION in Capitalism.
We are not against Taxes, we are against CORRUPTION in unfair Taxation.
We are not against Politics , we are against CORRUPTION in Politics.
END THE FED. Take back control of our currency from the private conglomerate
End the War on Drugs. and end the associated private prison complex.
End corporations like Diebold from counting our votes in secret.
End the fake Wars on Terrorism. Expose the truth.
I Freebird, support the 99% and proud to be MALADJUSTED! 😉
Sorry I only meant to copy the last two paragraphs of my blog to post here…..being drugged up is not fun.
😉
Legislate to repeal the Citizens United ruling. Absolutely.
That IS the Goal. It should be clearly stated and resonated across the country.
Yes! Get the money out of politics. Those who complain of corruption in Washington blame the hooker and excuse the John… Corporations have purchased our democracy. We want it back and economic justice as well.
At that time, this version was banned…I saw it in France. Look at the video and forget that is him…the signals an the meanings are very powerful. He tried so hard to get people attention on serious matters….but people where interested by what color has his toilet paper.
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I am the 00.1%
I mentioned on a previous blog by Freebird, in answer to SPK, that I would like to see an end to tax havens, no more hiding money in Swiss bank accounts, shelf companies in the Caymens etc..and then this article appeared in Saturdays newspaper…
http://www.theage.com.au/business/counting-the-cost-of-tax-havens-20111125-1nz90.html
“Every year tax evasion costs the world’s governments $3.1 trillion, or about 5.1 per cent of world gross domestic product (GDP), activist group the Tax Justice Network says in a report.”
On the one hand Joko, I am pleased when people care enough to make positive changes, such as reducing corporate ownership of our democratic republic.
On the other, very few choose to look sufficiently inward at our own flaws in reasoning. Some of which I currently note on my profile page – which more or less all, of course, reject. It is because this worship of our institutionalized stupidities is so pervasive that Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) is also correct,
“I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a waste of time.”
1% here = http://www.politico.ie/social-issues/8096-28-of-all-wealth-in-ireland-owned-by-top-1-.html
While I certainly don’t object to the idea of keeping corporate money out of elections, its simply not a sufficiently inspiring goal. And there will always be a way around it; there is no magic legal bullet to end the concrete fact that those with money will have more socio-political influence than those without it. That’s simply innate to the human condition. And its already illegal for corporations to make donations to formal candidate campaigns, for example (at least for Federal office).