I just think the movement lost all the momentum. I'm a supporter of the movement (while I didn't camp out -- had 2 jobs at the time, couldn't afford to -- I was at Dilworth Plaza with Occupy Philadelphia last October). The more I hear about Occupy, the more it turns to more obscure issues. Truthfully, I support the vast majority of what Occupy stands for, even on single issue problems (like prisons, police brutality, etc.). But Occupy will never truly appeal to the mainstream until it finds a way to streamline it's message. We should have kept the focus simply on corporate greed and income inequality. The moment the movement began to focus on what seems to be billions of left-wing causes, it not only lost focus, but lost the attention of the working class. Sad.
And it will never do that, because it started in with those retarded general assemblies, which lead to hipsters taking over and turning it into a giant ego-fest.
I'm pleased to see that the movement did not dis-ban completely when they were driven from their encampments. That could easily have been the end and everyone could have said goodbye, gone back to their lives, feeling dejected and disgruntled. The fact that the various groups have retained their core, and had the initiative to re-direct their energy to important and worthwhile causes, shows a great deal of commitment toward achieving the changes that we all want to see. They are still working very hard, pushing toward achieving the changes that this world needs so desperately, even if it's only by one small step at a time. I applaud them. :groupwave:
This: http://whattheheckhasoccupydonesofar.com Occupy is not over, it is evolving. Maybe not so many "camping", but so so many involved at a local level, where it matters. Just because msm doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean its not there. If you feel occupy is "losing steam" and you support occupy then lend a hand and reinvigorate.
Good. Movements are supposed to die. That's the best thing they can do, once they've made their impact. And it did make an impact. It changed the focus of politics and political debate. It, more than anything else, is why the elections are so focused on the economy right now. The Republicans know that they have better attack points -- Obama knows he has better attack points -- but the core focus of the debates has been the economy. Now, it has become mainstream. Now, more people are paying attention. Not enough, still; but more. The Tea Party movement has unfortunately become mainstream, as well; with candidates advertising their support even in states like mine where the movement was not well received; but that's another issue.
only reason that could be possible is if the people arent fighting like they were. the civil rights movement took years. we need to stand up its gunna take a long time to get the job done so we need to lay the groundwork like early civil rights leaders. same goes for womens rights. its took half a century. if we fight the fight we WILL win
And here's a difference between movements, one word, leaders. Occupy is dead, and it's dead for many of the structural reasons a lot of were complaining about from the start. You need leaders. Occupy refused to have any leaders. Consensus building is great, but nothing can operate on a 90-100% approval being need. Being inclusive is great, but there comes a point where you need to tell people to stop doing something stupid. It also doesn't help when it starts to become so that anyone to the right of say Jill Stein(i.e. most general people who were originally drawn to the movement) feel like they're being shut down by people on the far left. Occupy did what it had to do though, income inequality actually became a topic in the US. 1% has become a huge meme. Occupy may have inadvertently helped Obama win the election in the sense Romney's "47% of Americans are bums" video, while still being bad, wouldn't have been as devastating in a world where 99%/1%/rich people may in fact be assholes who hate us and should probably pay more taxes never happened.
So occupy is dead? Besides Occupy Sandy disaster relief , there is the "rolling Jubilee": http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/11/15/occupy-debt-relief-campaign-buys-100000-worth-of-debt/
:2thumbsup: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/11/15/occupy-debt-relief-campaign-buys-100000-worth-of-debt/
Occupy is still strong in Portland. I've been in several marches, and the experience always made me feel more empowered and hopeful about the future. I think we just need to give it a little more time. I have faith that ultimately our voice will be heard and respected. :sunny: QP
I suppose so, but it's not as strong as it used to be. I think the occupy movement got a big smear against it by the MSM when the reporters decided hand-pick and interview the homeless tweakers who were only attended because it was community living for them. The activists accepted them into their crowd because the 99% is not supposed to be discriminatory to those who aren't part of the global elite. The reporters of course broadcasted the voices of the junkies and the idiots who didn't know what they were protesting for. I had to keep arguing with my republican family members that the occupy movement was not a socialist rebellion.
^ my experience with occupy boston was that it was very radical, moderates not really welcome at all. socialists were in effect right-wing relative to the rest. there were folks who thought there was going to be a non-violent revolution, those who thought revolution was impossible and that therefor the purpose of occupy was to express rage, and those who were there just to hang out maybe occupy boston was different than other places though