Occupy helped turn Central Florida blue in 2012 -- but...don't tell anyone!

[nashville_brook]

b/c of the HARD work and dedication of Occupiers who hit the streets and pulled all-nighters fighting for true-blue Dems in the I-4 corridor, we nearly swept our state and Congressional races in 2012. What we lost was by a much smaller margin than expected and opened the door for better work in 2014.

You might not have known who was an Occupier and wasn't during campaign season. I did. And I was SO very proud of them.

So, let people think that Occupy didn't achieve "lasting" change. That's a-okay with me. I know better, and I know that the label doesn't matter.

What DOES matter is that Occupy gave people hope and it allowed us to network and teach each other. We have lasting bonds and we're much smarter now than we were two years ago.

But shhhhhhh. It's a secret.

[djean111]

1. Great to know!

I honestly do not get the Occupy dislike here, by some.

[NuclearDem]

3. A lot of what I've seen is based on ignorance and not understanding Occupy.

That and the media's inability to cover Occupy's post-camp activities, outside of some incredible beat journalists.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. We try. And at times I have to do it in my own blog

Cause you know readers are tired of occupy, direct quote

[Jackpine Radical]

8. It was not in the interests of the Ownership Class

for their propaganda outlets to give space to Occupy.

Oh, no. Occupy died because it lacked leadership and had no unified message.

The reality, of course, is that it flourishes as it continues to experiment with ways of being a leaderless organization, and its vision of what needs to be changed is "All of the Above."

This just has to scare the living Bejeezus out of the Owners when they stop to think about it. So my guess is they don't stop to think about it much, except to keep up the surveillance in hopes of avoiding any nasty surprises.

[nashville_brook]

9. in any given Occupy, you could identify a "stylist" grouping, an "idealist" grouping, and a couple

of jackasses. but by and large it was a place to go and participate in something with intent -- which we don't do enough of in our culture. it was almost like a Storytelling Festival in it's infancy -- just folks swapping stories in a very ad hoc way. only we were swapping ideas.

i think that's the source of the odd radical feel about it -- people a taste of gathering for non-consumptive purposes is a radical thing. you were there to participate, listen, observe, take home a task, whatever.

so many sharp as hell young people. so many cool older folks to hang back with, drink coffee and make plans. we did a lot of local government excursions which was the first time most OccuPeeps had done such a thing...attend a City Council meeting or a union negotiation. There was drama. There was food. There was excitement. All really good stuff.

[Eleanors38]

2. But... But... this is "Flori-duh!" It couldn't have gone for Obama twice.

[randome]

5. Shhh. That's a secret, too.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Rules are made to be broken. Including this one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Eleanors38]

13. You'd think DU was a church or something.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. And Gore once.

[Gothmog]

6. Good job

Good Job

[SidDithers]

10. It's too bad more Occupy groups weren't as politically engaged...

supporting Democratic candidates. They could have made a real difference.

Sid

[Rex]

11. K&R for pissing off all the RIGHT people!

[mick063]

12. I'm waiting for one of two things:

Their economic ideology coopts the Democratic Party and I become a dedicated soldier for the Party.

or


They become a political party and I register with them as one of the founding electorate.



Whatever happens first is where I am headed.

[nashville_brook]

14. there's new blood for sure...if my state is any measure, and I'm Florida so FWIW

there's a vibrant progressive community that spans the state that's seen all sorts of new blood from Occupy, Pink Slip Rick, and Awake The State. We're a bit silo'd in different parts of the state, but social media and dedicated organizers keep us talking.

2014 will certainly measure our progress -- getting it right on the governor's race is going to be a big factor.

[IronLionZion]

15. Congrats!