OWS #3: Demands, Message

Bert Stabler asks in part 1 of our Occupy Wall Street saga, a question on the minds of much of us:
"They don't actually have any concrete realizable demands, do they?"

Relating to the media criticism of the precision of the Wall Street Occupiers' message, I think the Glenn Greenwald has summed that up nicely--
“Does anyone really not know what the basic message is of this protest: that Wall Street is oozing corruption and criminality and its unrestrained political power — in the form of crony capitalism and ownership of political institutions — is destroying financial security for everyone else?”

In terms of demands, the text below, recently forwarded to me by a friend, seems to address that question, by saying that the way in which the participants are organizing themselves from moment to moment, communicating, making decisions and implementing them--that their very organizational methodology--can be seen as a living demand. As if they're saying, 'this is what radical, participatory democracy, that is transparent, that takes care of all its members and values their unique abilities and voices, this is what it looks like. This is what we want.' And by living it out, they are showing that it can be 'concretely realized'. We might say, yes, that's nice, on a very small, temporary, privately funded and fed scale. But what can it possibly do to effect any meaningful change on the massive and complex financial system and its chastened attendant civil government(s)? Fair enough.

I believe that there is a core group of dedicated, serious, and capable people down there in the plaza. How they (we?) translate their efforts in this action into long-term, systemic change, or how long that may take, is as yet unclear. It seems to me this group and what they are doing is like a seed of the fruit they want to see. Seeds can grow into sturdy, productive trees, but at first they need to be planted (in the right time and place), nurtured consistently, and protected from harm. Plus, you don't plant an orange seed if you want a mango tree. So, given the well-documented discrimination (and I would also include violent anger) inside the anti-Vietnam war movement (to name one among maaaany others), whose cause was just but whose methods ultimately contained the seeds of its own dissipation, it seems to me that focusing on the methods and process of an action is right on the mark. Because, really, you're changing your life. As a political action it may seem less direct, more chaotic, less media-friendly, but the people who participate are actually co-learning/co-creating a way to be which, in the measure that they share it with more people, can lead to long-term change, in the long run.

I mean, in South Africa under apartheid you could simultaneously have a specific demand, like the release of a particular political prisoner (aka financial transaction tax), and at the same time hold the long-term goal of radical systemic change in the form of the abolition of apartheid (overthrow predatory capitalism). Learning from that example it's also essential to think, plan, and prepare long and hard for what comes after you get what you want...which seems to be part of the good work the Wall Street Occupiers are doing right now.

I reiterate that for this seed to continue to grow I think it will require a deeply unifying connector for strong roots of inner strength and sturdy leaves of outer solidarity: God/Spirit/Ethics/Wisdom and Song. Or do all us postmoderns want to ignore the fact that the American Civil Rights Movement was deeply spiritual, and filled with spirituals?

OK, enough armchair bloviating (for today), let's hear from someone who was actually there.

Take it away, Brian!

"Some thoughts on Occupy Wall Street
by Brian Pickett

I confess: I’m smitten with “Occupy Wall Street.” I don’t think I have
ever witnessed such political imagination unfold in this city or country.
Now you may have heard that, from the NY Times for instance, that there
isn’t a clear agenda, etc. That is false.

During the General Assemblies (open meetings held each day) there has much
talk about the many grievances we all share against Wall Street greed and
the possible demands the group would make. But specific demands on the
current system are only part of what is being imagined at Occupy Wall
Street. And the agenda is simple (and quite clear to those who take the
time to check it out): to change the nature of how decisions are made in
this country and on a global scale to include the majority of people.

Organizing the protest on terms of mutual cooperation and collective
decision making is precisely the point. Much more so than a laundry list
of demands that may still emerge. Imagine if every community across the
city, nation, and world, held nightly or weekly “general assemblies” to
decide what they wanted. We would no doubt see an increased sense of
cooperation and a greater level of participation in the decisions that
affect our lives.

Currently, we relegate most of the important decision making to the
political and economic elite. Think about who most effects policy
decisions. Is it you? Mostly not. So Occupy Wall Street isn’t about
affecting policy decisions, but about challenging who makes those
decisions. The beginning of that challenge involves creating small
encampments in which a more directly democratic process of decision making
and mutual cooperation can be practiced. This is direct action. This is
“what democracy looks like.”

Last night while waiting in line for some really tasty homemade food, I
was getting cold. I turned to a friend and said I was thinking of going
across the street to buy a cheap sweatshirt. Reminding me of where I was,
she suggested I go over to the “comfort committee” and ask to borrow one.
In a few minutes I returned wearing a new hooded sweatshirt, much warmer,
with no money exchanged and rethinking business as usual. Imagine the
possibilities…"