General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Prediction: The May 1st "general strike" is going to be an enormous flop. [View all]Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)But Occupy doesn't impose a line on that on everyone in the group...and, since Occupy is basically run on nonviolent anarchist principles, they can't give impose such a line.
Occupy can't actually force anyone within its ranks to do anything. They can't MAKE you quit the Democratic Party.
Those that want to work for the party can still do so. Just not in the name OF Occupy. Isn't that enough?
I suspect that your real grievance here is that Occupy won't make working FOR the Democratic Party their exclusive focus. IF they did that, they would have no reason to exist as a distinct group, they'd never make any worthwhile proposals, and they'd never work for anything OTHER than the Obama platform. Occupy HAS to be independent as a group to matter. As a formally pro-Democratic group, they'd have to stop talking about inequality at all. They'd have to stop talking about corporate power at all. They'd be forced to toe the Bernanke-Geithner-Summers line.
Only groups not specifically tied to the Dems or any OTHER party can truly work for the economically dispossessed. If you don't believe me, look at what happened to the "Obama movement"...you know, the one that no longer exists because the admin basically ordered it to disband. That's what will happen to the 99% Spring if it puts re-electing Obama first and expects everyone in the group to focus ON re-electing Obama.
And the problem with the 99% Spring, well intentioned as many of those who work within it may be, is that it looks like MoveOn and the Dems formed it to REPLACE Occupy. If Occupy is replaced by a group that's obedient to the party(and alliance with the party equals obedience), the movement dies.
Look at the 1960's Civil Rights movement-if the Kennedy/Johnson Administration had had its way, the Freedom Rides, the mass protests, and Mississippi Summer would NEVER have happened. Bobby Kennedy was demanding that the Civil Rights activists stop all activities and "wait until after the election"-which would have meant giving up, forever. Waiting until after the election ALWAYS means giving up. And if they had done what the Dem insiders wanted, we'd still HAVE Jim Crow...because all our party leaders cared about was not pissing off the South. Thank god the movement was independent. If it weren't, it would have been forced to settle for nothing.