Yesterday I was glued to DKos, eagerly reading about the protests on Wall Street between patients etc. Starting with MinistryofTruth's diary (all of which I agree with and also want) and OllieGarkey's exciting minute by minute narrative of the day's events that made me almost feel like I was there!
Later, five other diaries by ActivistGuy, dissonantdissident, Plubius, Ray Pensador, and War on Error wrote follow-up diaries with some critique/support and additional recommendations. Later, I thought about what it all meant and the way forward. Again, I agree with everything MoT said, but let's use caution before adopting old habits. Follow me below the fold for more...
The strength of OWS, to this point, has been that it had only one demand, accountability! Let us not renew our verbose, watered down and sometimes whiney explanations about what we want and why. Democrats have long been criticized for their poor messaging, behaving like a spineless herd of cats (no offense to cat owners-I have one too). I read about frustration with this messaging (or lack thereof) on this site every day while we fawn over the simple, oft repeated dogma of the Republicans.
Accountability is why America elected the President in 2008. Unfortunately, it's also why we lost so badly in 2010. Now more people are waking up to the fact that it appears like it doesn't matter who we elect and we're pissed!
The President didn't do enough and wasted 2-years on bipartisanship.
The blue dogs forced concessions.
The Republicans ran on jobs and haven't done anything except obstruct.
The Democrats in the senate and congress aren't doing enough and aren't speaking up!
(I miss Rep Weiner who ironically was held accountable)
We could go on ad nauseum about how we got here. But what do we want? I think we all know, in a nut shell, accountability, for Wall Street and our politicians.
But what do we hear? I've attended and it's exciting, inspirational, and gives me hope. But listen to us...does any of it say what we want? What we demand?
"We ARE THE 99%!"
"Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!"
"All Day All Week Occupy Wall St!"
"Who’s streets? Our streets!"
"Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!"
Listen, we've done great, but I think we need to focus on one thing, lest we open ourselves, both from within and others/pundits, to criticism about the same old, tired talking points against us, our dreams and our policies.
We should be chanting this and staying on message...
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"
"Accountability"