UPDATE:
Thanks for the amazing support my video has received! Special thanks to John Cusack, Roseanne Barr, Karoli, OneVoice2, MoveOn.org, Charles Gaba & Daily Kos and Lawrence O’Donnell (for airing a portion on The Last Word 10/11/11)!
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Why #OccupyWallStreet? This is what I asked myself a week ago. But after some reflection and a very good article from FireDogLake.com, I have since come around to embracing it with excitement and hope. But let’s start with a week ago.
From what I could gather online, their goals seemed so sweeping and romantically abstract that I felt some disappointment. Yet again, Democrats had the bodies but not the message.
As much as I deride the Tea Party, at least they have specific goals in mind. (Of course, it helps when those goals are distributed by a well-financed Koch machine and a guy with Wolverine sideburns.) But it seemed to me that Occupy Wall Street was priding itself on the fact that their demands were a “work in progress.” This just baffles a calcified liberal brain like mine that’s been in the Southern California sun too long.
Here are the aspects of OWS that sort of chaffed my political sensibilities:
1. When a movement focuses on police brutality, the message gets lost.
Sure, JP Morgan Stanley donated 4.6 million to the NYPD. But that was back in June. Conspiracy theorists don’t seem to care, though, and that just adds to the “crazy” drawer in America’s kitchen, tossed on top of the Birthers and Truthers.
My take on the “Bologna” attitude is that it is a byproduct of the NYPD militarization over the decade since 9/11. Good for fighting terrorism, bad for handling protests.
2. It’s offensive when people start comparing OWS with Tahrir Square.
Yes, the tactical approach to demonstrating is similar. But the Egyptians had a very specific goal in mind. And much more importantly, everyone was risking their lives just by being there. Every day. As flawed as America may be, it is not Egypt.
3. Kill Capitalism.
I don’t want to kill Capitalism. It’s been my friend more days than not. I’d rather fence it in and teach it how to play well with others — have compassion at its center. Otherwise, it’ll just eat itself. I like the potential of the Capitalist/Socialist blend we’ve been tinkering with. It’s just that the tinkering needs to be a full blown overhaul!
4. The lack of a tangible set of demands.
Without it, how do you win? Yup. This was my Western treadmill thinking. I’ve since realized that my ideas of how OWS should be run are irrelevant. It’s happening, baby! It ain’t perfect, but it encompasses many things that I’ve been thinking and feeling. And since its goals are fluid and arguably grandiose, it’s all-inclusive by default.
5. This is the left’s astroturf movement.
Okay, this one is but a right wing bloggers circle-jerk assertion. Just wanted to address it.
There are many “occupiers” who do not like Obama one bit. There are others who are Ron Paul devotees (by the way, guys, please end your comments with something more catchy than “Ron Paul 2012!” … like “Ron Paul would let you smoke pot – 2012!”).
And even if it is an astroturf movement orchestrated by Soros, the left has a much better sense of humor. And, aside from long walks on the beach and getting caught in the rain, I like my astroturf movement to have a sense of humor!
I attended Day 1 of #OccupyLosAngeles on Saturday. But after loving some signs and finding others antithetical to my world view, I decided to embrace the tangible goals I saw there. I found three that I think could be effective in partly reversing the inequity of the last 30 years.
I also thought they’d be a good excuse to make another video. (Yes, my videos are a bit of an addiction, but it’s a healthier addiction than my ice cream one… Oh, Twix ice cream, how you taunt me…)
If you like this, please feel free to pass it on to others.
Excellent as usual. While all your points have merit, I think 2 & 3 are the funniest
This is a great video, D.C.; really lays bare some great facts. I would enjoy talking to you about our new non-profit project, http://www.BeYourGovernment.org. We are launching next month but have some sample pages up. I think you might find it gratifying, in the way that political activists like us feel gratified, by having a forum as a Citizen Activist, to express ourselves and feel heard. Here is a sample page from that section: http://www.beyourgovernment.org/citizen-jeana.htm…. It's free; am looking to you as a person who expresses politcal thought with great videos and inspire other people to do the same. You can read about my past and work at http://www.ProgresiveSource.com. Reach me at info at BeYourGovernment.com; I can provide more direct contact info there. Thanks., Jonathan
Yes to the reinstatement of those three regulations. That should be the primary goal.
But add:
Rescind Citizens United.
Corporations are NOT people and should not have the same rights as flesh and blood people.
When you can try and convict a corporation, when Texas can execute a corporation, then they've achieved personhood. Until then, they are not our equals. Certainly not our betters. Their rights under the constitution should be limited. I don't care what mistake some court clerk made taking notes for the Supreme Court in some back room. Fix it.
The "80-205" D.C. refers to in his video is the Citizens United ruling. I guess he was just crunched for title space.
I'll believe corporations are people when Texas and Georgia executes one.
DC, where did you go to get the mid-1990s video 'footage'? (I need some…)
Just wanted to let you know that I absolutely LOVE this video; it does a fantastic job of boiling down "why the hell are these people so pissed, and what the hell do they want done about it?"
FYI, I've done my part to take it viral over at the Great Orange Satan:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/09/1024636/…?
You ROCK! Thank you so much!
Okay, let’s see if I got this. Capitalism is YOUR friend and so you don’t want to overthrow it. That’s an incredibly self centered view, but capitalism engenders that kind of thinking. Also, if that’s as deep as your analysis of capitalism goes, it’s understandable that you like it. However, if that’s as deep as your analysis goes, then maybe you shouldn’t wade into the debate about whether it should be overthrown or not since you’re obviously ignorant that it’s normal, profitable operation created the very situation where many brave people decided to occupy Wall Street to hold it accountable.
I would never pretend to be an expert on economic systems. I am also wary of those who post comments purporting that they are. But glad to know you support my right to speak my mind. Oh, wait… You don't. Great example your setting.
So, how is your attitude working with others who are actually there but who don't agree wholeheartedly with your worldview? Do you dismiss them as well? Is your worldview the ONLY correct one and all others who don't agree should be silent? If so, can you see how that might be a wee bit of a problem on a planet where you have to live with other human beings?
Perhaps, instead of behaving like many of the Tea Partiers who post on my political videos, try presenting me with some facts and figures (in a nice way, if you can muster it) that might persuade me to your way of thinking. Your current approach is a bit lacking (unless you think the bitchy cheerleader approach is best). Until then, I'll champion a blend of socialism and compassionate capitalism.
"That's an incredibly self centered view, but capitalism engenders that kind of thinking."
You haven't explained why it's bad to be self-centered, or how a system that "overthrows" it would defeat this by having people work for things that are not best for themselves. News flash: Communism is a failure.
Wish you ran credits ladder in the video itself – along with a URL to this post (if the post had more detail on the credits — I want to know where the footage comes from). It would be more compelling and stand-alone in a way that it can't now. [You know this - you're a storyteller - so you must have a good reason for not doing so -- what is it?]
Note: your Twitter login option ain't working — I've done the 360 round robin three times. No joy. And to log in with WP I was sent to another site (not in another window, btw). Getting back to the post was a PITA. Just sayin'.
I appreciate the critique. These videos that I do are on my own time for sheer passion/pleasure and to only be seen on the internet (though Lawrence O'Donnell and Joy Behar have been kind to me). To have compiled a credits list of news sources after spending 3 days sourcing, compiling and editing would've been a bear to a guy who had a film audition and two voice over sessions the next day! I can tell you the LA shots were my own filming? I know, I know.
As for the twitter login stuff, that's just Intense Debate having issues. It's out of my hands. But thanks for the heads up. Maybe one day I'll switch over to Disqus… We'll see.
Gee willkires, that’s such a great post!
I have been contemplating what to put on my protest signs, and want to thank you for articulating and illustrating my sentiments so well. I have to admit that I’ve not given any thought to auditing the Fed. But since you nailed GlassSteagall, Citizens United, and “tax the rich” right on the head, I’ll have to read up on it.