Occupy (fill in the blank) -do you realize what this movement is

[babylonsister]

doing? It's getting people not normally involved in the political process involved. It's eradicating apathy, and making the whole country think about where we are, how we got here, and who might be responsible. I know the reasons for this happening suck, but still...

It's all good, and necessary.

And major PROPS to those involved in any way!

[salin]

1. agreed babylonsister

and today I also felt a little sense of embrace from this community at DU when I put a little call out to help a small and struggling occupy group with support for their effort to make a statement and get attention for an arrest for holding an umbrella (this is a no structure occupation, but no warning that a large umbrella = a structure led to an arrest). A few hours later a group assembled with a livestream - and I asked for a little support even a short tune in and shout out from the DU. As fast as general discussion goes - got a lot of views - some visits (which led to shouts out of UNITY from the occupiers) and perhaps incidentally the feed got picked up by the Global Livestream which then added phone numbers for calls locally about the arrest.

I don't post as much as I did in the early days - but I read several times a day. Know that for many current posters I am as unknown as a newbie except I have a star and the 1000+ post showing. Also know that I still have friends with whom we used to dig into stories and share info - who still recognize me and still embrace me as part of the family. All that said, this afternoon it seemed like several of my worlds coincided.

Meanwhile the little occupation action got some media coverage (which the initial arrest did not get), numerous new folks stopped by the State House occupation to learn more, and some folks who were getting discouraged became reengaged.

Why? To expand the conversation. To get more involved. To alter "conventional wisdom" in hopes of eventually changing the ground rules per how our money in politics at the favor of the monied works.

Just wanted to give voice a) for appreciation of Duers who showed support and b) give a full heartened agreement with your op.

Peace, salin

[babylonsister]

4. Peace to you also, salin, and I certainly remember you. I'm

so glad you got responses from here, and are involved. Please keep us posted on your efforts, and thank you!

[salin]

12. Thank you babylon sister

I am touched by your remembrance and hug.

I will certainly share the local story and links when there is news to share. But my message is yours - this is about a grand dialogue and one that needs to reach out to those who feel so distanced and/or disenfranchised as to believe that until this moment they had no voice. This movement should not speak for those - but should give a microphone to them to broadcast their voice to the general public.

Together - we change the dialogue. Together if in large enough solidarity (and can stick it out through time) we can challenge for a different future.

salin

[Remember Me]

2. It's also providing a boatload of hope -- that we CAN change things

sooner or later, eventually,by standing together.

All in all it's quite bracing.

[lunatica]

3. The tide has turned

Anyone who doesn't feel it isn't paying attention.

[leftstreet]

5. Working class people who don't vote aren't apathetic about their conditions n/t

[babylonsister]

10. Maybe this will encourage them to vote. nt

[Cal Carpenter]

6. I would like to point out that OWS (etc) is engaging people

who have been *disenfranchised* from the system. They are not previously apathetic or 'not involved'. They just have no place/no voice in the PARTISAN political duopoly. It is sort of paternalistic to imply that they were previously apathetic.

From where I stand, having been to a couple of the sites including NYC, it looks more like the people who *have* been involved primarily in the partisan system are finally catching up with the millions who have been aware of their disenfranchisement for decades, and all these people are getting out in the streets together, reclaiming the commons and having incredibly important conversations and connecting the dots.

[MedleyMisty]

7. I always wondered why Democrats said they had to be conservative to appeal to independent voters

It seemed really freaking obvious to me that it might be a better political strategy to go talk to the 50% of Americans who don't vote and find out what's up with them and get them to vote for you, as opposed to chasing votes from psychopathic nutcases while alienating your base.

[Kaleko]

8. Yes, ma'm! What's up with that?

I'm thinking it's the chickenshit method of covering your ass while kissing corporate lobbyist's butt.

But I'm always open to even more trenchant insight into what motivates the self-defeating behavior of Democrats.

[babylonsister]

11. I'm hoping this movement encourages those who

might have felt disenfranchised to vote, because that's a starting point. Of course, we need to make the rethugs back off on disenfranchising people who want to vote.

[Cal Carpenter]

13. I think you may have missed the point.

You do realize that almost half of Americans don't vote most of the time, right? And that the last few years of Obama's policy isn't going to encourage them to get to the polls? It has just reinforced what they already knew. They are alienated from the system, and neither party is doing a damned thing about it beyond a little lip service.

It's not about how people 'feel',it is about the real, measurable results of policies enacted by *both* parties.

OWS is not a 'get out the vote' effort. It will not be co-opted by a party. I realize this doesn't gel with DU in a fundamental way, but it's the truth.

[babylonsister]

14. I haven't missed your point, but was trying to make one of my own.

The rethugs are trying to disenfranchise loads of people (primarily blacks and latinos) by changing the rules of voting, i.e., requirements to have photo IDs, etc. THAT pisses me right the hell off.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. And...we have troops coming home from Iraq.

Wonder how many will be like Sgt. Thomas, and really mad about Scott Olson.?

[louslobbs]

15. K&R n/t

Lou

[BigBearJohn]

16. Well said.