#OccupyWallStreet: Time for Progressives to Stand in Solidarity
Over at AmericaBlog Matt Browner Hamlin lays out in simple terms why liberals need to join #OcccupyWallStreet . Hamlin specifically zeroes in on a key passage of a must read Green Greenwald post pushing back against criticisms coming against these movement from certain mainstream progressive corners: But for those who believe that protests are only worthwhile if they translate into quantifiable impact: the lack of organizational sophistication or messaging efficacy on the part of the Wall Street protest is a reason to support it and get involved in it, not turn one’s nose up at it and join in the media demonization. That’s what one actually sympathetic to its messaging (rather than pretending to be in order more effectively to discredit it) would do. Anyone who looks at mostly young citizens marching in the street protesting the corruption of Wall Street and the harm it spawns, and decides that what is warranted is mockery and scorn rather than support, is either not seeing things clearly or is motivated by objectives other than the ones being presented. Seth D. Michaels from Working America’s “Main Street” blog also made similar arguments yesterday: What’s important about this protest, to my mind, is not the particular goals, tactics or supporters. While the protest itself has drawn criticism or indifference from many corners, it illuminates two important points. First, the financial sector in this country has been taking up a larger and larger share of the economy as the rest of us have fallen further and further behind. Second, the big banks and investment firms who helped cause the crisis and the recession haven’t been fully reined in or held accountable. That matters, and people around the country get it. We talk to thousands of Americans in their neighborhoods every week, and they understand the real-life effects of Wall Street’s outsized power: the failure of the economy to create good jobs at good wages, the powerful influence of corporations in our politics, the difficulty of keeping a roof over your family’s head. If you want to get an understanding of the broad scope of this movement, I would recommend reading up Sarah Jaffe’s piece yesterday describing how these protesters are fighting banksters greed and the surveillance state . Obviously I don’t expect the wankers in the DC media to get this. They are too busy slobbering all over former Wall Street lobbyist Chris Christie as “the people’s choice,” shamelessly begging him to run for the White House. Those guys are hopeless. However, I think it is also worth noting that this movement provides a great opportunity for progressive organizations, talkers … well to organize around. The amazing narrative being threaded by these protesters against Wall Street greed and corruption seems to be right in the wheelhouse of traditional progressive groups who have always spoken up against too much money in politics. Thankfully folks like Keith Olbermann and Sam Seder are taking note . Our own Kenneth Quinnell here at C&L has been all over the story as well. But we need more. As MBH noted in his post #OcccupyWallStreet is an expression of anger that represents “99 percent of citizenry,” who doesn’t get a seat at the table of high $$ fancy fundraisers in DC. It is a massive opportunity for the progressive organizations in DC to step up and join them. EDITOR’S NOTE: There are solidarity demonstrations this weekend…possibly one near you. Check out Facebook for more details .
#OccupyWallStreet: Time for Progressives to Stand in Solidarity
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on September 29, 2011. Filed under