According to a recent Rasmussen poll, a whopping 79% of Americans think the big banks got bailed out but the middle class got left behind.
79%. That is 4 out of every 5 Americans. My guess is the same 4/5 hate the banks.
And yet, also according to the Ras,
Americans are divided on the protestors themselves. Thirty-three percent (33%) have a favorable opinion, 27% hold an unfavorable view, and a plurality of 40% have no opinion one way or the other. Fifty percent (50%) of Democrats have a favorable opinion while a plurality of Republicans (43%) say the opposite. Among those not affiliated with either major party, a solid plurality (45%) have no opinion. Most unaffiliateds are not following the story.
I'm part of the plurality. Well, kind of. I have an opinion about #OWS, and I'll tell you below the fold. You may not like it. In fact, you probably won't.
But you should understand it. If you want to take back your country.
My opinion is I don't care. I don't care about #OWS. I care about electing more and better Dems. I care about that because I want to protect myself, my family and my country from Big Money and the Republicans. I don't want to make a statement. I don't want my voice to be heard. For me, street protests only matter if and how they effect elections.
Elections matter. Elections have consequences.
If #OWS helps to elect more and better Dems, I support it. If it hurts, I am against it. If it does neither, I don't care.
Let me repeat: I don't care about the movement. I care about winning elections.
At present, the #OWS movement has not demonstrated to me that is has the leadership and focus to merit my support. It does not have clear and articulated goals. "Yes, it does," many say. But they are wrong. See this diary here, explaining why, a diary from swellsman who is much more sympathetic to the cause than I.
In short, the First Official Statement reflects how #OWSs lack of focus obscures its messaging. This is a FAILURE of persuasion 101: make no more than three main points.
And here, we only need three:
1. The corrupt banks and
2. their bought politicians
3. hurt 99% of Americans
One, two, three. Connect the dots. 79% of Americans hate Wall Street. Connect the dots. Give us "Occupy Wall Street because We are the 99%" Don't give us a laundry list of liberal/left grievances.
Don't give us: "They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility." Don't give us: "They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation." Don't give us: "They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt." Don't give us: "They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil."
Don't give us: "They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad. They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas."
I don't care. Most Americans don't care. We care about having a job and making our lives better for our children. That is under attack and we want our leaders to do something about it. We don't want to march. We don't want a revolution. We don't want to raise our awarness.
We want jobs, a roof over our head, food on the table, money in our pocket and a new pair of shoes.
So NEVER, EVER give us "They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless animals, and actively hide these practices."
Mind-blowingly idiotic.
Keep it Simple. Stay on Point. Connect the Dots.
That's how you move from 33% to 79%.