What would you do differently within the Occupy movement ?

I’m not for it, but I do think that a) spitting and cursing at cops is a big no no, especially when the cops haven’t done anything but stand there, b) bringing a gun to a OWS protest camp out as a protester and then blowing you brains out is also pretty stupid and a great way to get the camp cleared out.

Focus on political advocacy. Train new politicians and support existing ones that would actually seek to enact more progressive income tax and resist cutting the deficit on the backs of poor people, and would reform the political system. Become a political bloc, like the Tea Party, that basically exists as pressure to move the national conversation leftward and hold Democrats accountable.

Continue to rally, but stop the stupid camp-outs and certainly stop the damage to property and confrontations with police.

Value pragmatism over ideological rigidity. This is the weakness of both the Tea Party and OWS. It’s better to accomplish something in a compromise than accomplish nothing while remaining “pure.”

Spell your goddamn signs right. (My one contribution to the movement was getting a black marker and correcting a guy’s sign that said “TO BIG TO FAIL”)

They should all get together and start digging a hole. I’m talking huge! It will be like making a pyramid, but upside down in the ground. It will show that they’re actually willing to work instead of just sitting around smoking weed and shouting anti-political slogans, attract a lot of attention, symbolize their organization in a literal and figurative sense (as in you can visually see that they’re organized in the construction), and it will also draw reference to the unfair economic statues of the ancient slave workers of Egypt.

Educate yourself on the actual political process to discover where your efforts would be most effective.

I would also stress the need for good ethical banking. Prosperity is linked to good banking. Without banks we would be a lot poorer. We need to eliminate unethical banking. Not all banking.

@Esedess, that’s a pretty ignorant thing to say. Many OWS protesters have jobs. Those that don’t are hampered by the worst job market since the great depression.

And plenty of people who don’t have jobs are not part of OWS.

Do you actually know anyone who is long-term unemployed?

@Qingu, it was more of a joke than anything else. If you want my serious answer, I think, just for starters, they need to hire a few REALLY good/dedicated PR reps. Disregarding the reality of their plight, which I agree with, they’re basically just coming off like a bunch of ill-informed rioters who are mad at the system and can’t think of anything truly productive to do for change. It’s not entirely their fault mind you. News reporters seem somewhat systematic in picking out the dumbest of the crowd to interview and present to the public. Hence the need for a good PR rep. If the system’s main tool against OWS, as it would appear, is to discredit them publicly, then they need to first combat that. It’s a stupid game to play, but that’s how bureaucracy works.

2nd, (and keeping in mind that I don’t know much about politics or economics to begin with) If it’s feasible, they should choose, manage, and fund a political candidate of their own. A presidential nominee for the people, so to speak. Regardless of the outcome it will put pressure on others’ campaigns, bring a proactive outlook to their cause, and get their actual intentions front and center in all the debates and the like.

I didn’t think your joke was funny, knowing several unemployed people personally. But I agree with your “serious” answer, with the exception of nominating a presidential candidate of their own because that’s a pipe dream and will probably split the vote and result in a worse outcome from their perspective than if Obama won.

@Qingu Well, I am sorry for the offense. In all fairness though, I was laid off back in 2009 and was refused unemployment, for some reason. It took me 3 extremely stressful months of non-stop searching to find a job without losing my apt/car/etc… 25 people just got laid off where I work now (last Friday), many whom I’m good friends with; as well as my up stairs neighbor, both my parents who are teachers and have a 3 kids still at home (1 of which is constantly/currently in the hospital), and an old friend who just graduated with his degree and can’t find work. I’m not ignorant. I’m in the middle of what’s going on as much as we all are. But that doesn’t change the fact that 70’s style hippie camp-outs are a laughably erroneous posture for solution. That’s not to say I don’t personally understand the panic and overwhelming stress of trying to do something… anything… to combat an unfair scenario where you’re on the short end of an untouchable system. We all have knee jerk reactions to such things. However, that’s the thing with quick-emotional responses, they carry true intentions; but no viable solutions. It’s like unfairly getting a speeding ticket and then throwing a brick through a courthouse window as retribution. It doesn’t solve anything. In fact it makes it worse. That’s where I see the OWS movement right now. A bunch of people who can’t think of a real way to get retribution/change, so they’re doing damage however they can. It’s not helping their cause or the economy they’re fighting for.

Fair enough. I agree with you about the hippie posturing. I just get a bee in my bonnet when people pull the whole “you’re too lazy to get a job” canard.

@Esedess – In Europe many people in the OWS movement come from a powerful organization called

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attac

which means a lot of smart people who know a lot more about the complexity of banking than you and I together. Viewing them as bunch of ill-informed rioters is simply wrong and unfair.

I wonder why Attac is not present in the US.

@mattbrowne
That’s understandable. My point is that they’re not presenting themselves as such, at least not here in America. You could be the most qualified, intelligent person in the world, but if you go to an interview and act like a bum you’re not gunna get the job. OWS has bad PR. It doesn’t matter who is behind the scenes, or patiently and peacefully protesting because that’s not what the public is getting from them. For people to see the movement the way OWS wants, they need to adopt a proactive PR campaign. The work they do is important. However, the way people see the work they do is equally, if not more, important.

@Esedess – Give them some time. They will become more professional. They got worthy goals.

@mattbrowne That’s fair. I hope they do, for all our sakes. I do agree that their goals are worthy. I think many people, including myself would more proactively back them if they did reach the point of professionalism we’re looking for.