I seem to recall that people sat outside Greenham common for decades...
...and sure enough nuclear disarmament was achieved. Oh wait.

When the poll tax riots actually succeeded in changing something, you'll note that the mission statement was "return to the old system." The two million residents of Manilla who protested against Marcos rigging their election didn't tack a list of sub demands on the side (they did at least wait for Aquino to assume power first). You can ignore the lessons of history all you like. You can pretend they don't apply. There has been no significant alteration in the way that a message is delivered with any success. That delivery is currently totally beyond the occupy movement. You won't change the 5 minute (more realistically, 90 second) newsbite. You either work with it or fail.

Consider this. The tea party are a bunch of dislikable hardliners. They did however go from nascent protest to political power brokers in about the same time the occupy movement has sat in snowy contemplation. The message is simple, the reinforcement effective and the results clear (if not ideal). Occupy would benefit from learning how they did it.
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Tue 1 Nov 2011, 15:12, 1 reply)

I'd say that the Tea Party has something of an advantage,
in that it represents the feelings of a significant percentage of members of an existing political party, and they have the support of significant sections of their country's media.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Tue 1 Nov 2011, 19:11, closed)

There is also the helpful fact that the tea party were bankrolled by the Koch brothers.
The media support is a given when you own a massive stake in in it.

english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/10/2011102683719370179.html
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Tue 1 Nov 2011, 23:58, closed)

"Koch"
It's funny, 'cause it sounds like "cock", which is slang for "penis". The Tea Party are a front for some penis.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Wed 2 Nov 2011, 8:46, closed)

It's pronounced "coke"

( argyleblanket The man on the roof works for me, Wed 2 Nov 2011, 9:59, closed)

I think you'll find that it is pronounced pee-niz.

( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Wed 2 Nov 2011, 13:19, closed)

More excuses, no solutions
That bloke Obama, the one currently President of the United States. His 2008 campaign was financed to a huge extent by grassroots donations. If we accept that the movement is too packed with fiscal illiterates to attract large single donors and supporters, why not try that route?

Could it be that- once again- with no easy to explain aims and objectives, no solutions and (when it boils down to it) no actual consensus even within the protestors themselves, there is nothing to campaign with?
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Wed 2 Nov 2011, 13:26, closed)

the campaign is still growing
and forming as more people see the value.
There is no hurry to rush into anything.
But the sheer amount of information coming from these people is fucking phenomenal.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Wed 2 Nov 2011, 14:02, closed)

Seriously, i'll put the kettle on...
I've probably got something Fairtrade somewhere if you want, isn't chamomile soothing or restful?
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Wed 2 Nov 2011, 14:25, closed)

So where is this "information?"
The Beeb has a story about how the Church supports a transaction tax (we'll leave the irony in that for now) with a vague link to the protests but otherwise nothing. Nothing on the front page of the Guardian. The New Statesman, which has been fairly uncritical so far- even sending Rik from the Young Ones impersonator Laurie Penny to "cover" the movement, is asking if the occupy movement actually has a fucking point.

I'm sure the blogosphere is alight. The converted have never been so well preached to. Everyone else, not so much.
(Leonard Hatred briefly did some work on, Wed 2 Nov 2011, 14:38, closed)

Excellent description of Laurie Penny which I will now steal.
She gets right on my ruddy tits.
( Pig Bodine., Wed 2 Nov 2011, 21:39, closed)