mic check goes Presidential

[Michael Bailey]

 Henry M wrote:
> Another example of OWS being nothing more than the sound and fury that they
> accuse all politicians of being.  If OWS wants any real cred, why isn't it
> gathering and distributing food in areas of people who are too poor (15% of
> USA is classified as in poverty) to go camp out and travel with them?  How
> about educating people about the history of socialism and civil disobedience
> in the USA?
>

I'd embellish your point by saying that the history of socialism and
civil disobedience in the USA is fraught with movements that suffer
doubly:  organizational and conceptual flaws from within and violent
resistance from without -

so in a way they are educating people about those things (by displaying them)

In defense of the whole lot of socializers and civilized disobeyers
over the years, I'd point to some significant accomplishments despite
it all - some times in which people taking to the streets was not a
waste of time, but a brave act which
a) created a sense of community
b) embodied a spirited reaction to injustice
c) forced the press and government to confront issues they had been
assiduously ignoring

- and in defense of today's occupiers, their main thrust is protesting
the economic injustice that has created the poverty you're asking them
to take on the relief of, when a big part of their motivation (I would
opine) is how close they themselves are to marginalization due to said
economic injustice.  Sure I'll share my crumbs, but holy Moses it
ain't that much...

and after being among the crowds who turned out for Obama, I'd say it
was a sign of consistency to turn out now for the issues that he stood
for, when standing for election.  If in fact he is working for those
issues, their actions can strengthen his hand.