My heart goes out to all the good people around the country who have risen in protest against what is clearly a criminal oligarchy. I know they are good, decent, hard-working, moral people (by and large). They know what the problem is: Wholesale takeover of our government by a moneyed super-rich and powerful elite, with the intent of subjugating and exploiting the population.
But as I continue to follow the movement, and participate (whenever I can), I'm beginning to realize that there is a certain naiveté that permeates the entire movement; a naiveté that could prove fatal to any hope that democracy could be restored in this country.
The playbook (as it were) of power struggles between oligarchs and and the populace has been written, and re-written many times over. Many a thinker has commented (provided wonderful quotes) about the dynamics of revolution, peaceful, or otherwise.
Yet, here we are with a promising movement which could end up sabotaging itself by not fully understanding the nature of the challenge it faces, and most importantly, the true nature of the tyranny it is trying to confront.
People in the movement share many of the characteristics necessary for success. Many of the tactics that are being used are right on target, including the coordination of protest at high-profile events attended by the oligarchs (high-priced political fund-raising, etc.).
But it is lacking the two most important components for success, if the objective is to bring about real change and reestablish democracy: Clear vision and strategic thinking; And malice (a strong feeling of wanting to hurt [something] or be unkind to [it]).
The establishment is the oligarchy: The Republican and Democratic parties; the multinational corporations who funds them.
The entire media landscape is polluted with bullshit, fake controversies, like the stupid issues with Herman Cain, or Perry's drunk speech, or the multitude of dastardly acts being done by the Rethugs.
MSNBC spends most of its airtime fanning the flames of those fake issues and controversies. And the radio personalities on the left, do the same.
But it's all kabuki theater meant to distract the populace, and in this case, the people who have finally risen to take on the criminal oligarchy, in order to neutralize them.
So as members of the resistance movement have been convinced that they "don't need no" leaders, or strategy, or focus (convincing them that it was an original idea, to boot), and as they are distracted with all manner of utter bullshit pushed every day by the entire media landscape, the oligarchy continues consolidating its power, unmolested.
The set up is so basic, that it pains me to have to explain it... The Republican and Democratic parties are part of the criminal oligarchy. The Republicans take the role of the bad cop, and the Democrats of the good cop. But they are actually acting in concert, and ultimately, their objectives are the same: to help the oligarchy cement its power, and to subjugate the population.
So as the Republicans do some really crazy shit--stuff that makes people gasp in disbelief--the Democrats (establishment) seem much more reasonable. This is the most dangerous thing of all, since all of the sudden the choices we are presented with are between a wild-eyed guy holding a chain-saw, and a well-mannered, well-spoken, man (establishment) who seems reasonable. But their objectives are the same: To fuck you over.
And so the back-room deals move forward; the pipeline will be built; poverty will continue to spread; protesters will continue to be brutally beaten by police-cum-corporate-goons; foreclosures will continue; the big banks will remain, move-your-money-day notwithstanding; money will continue to flood political campaigns; schools will not be properly funded; cities will continue to lay off teachers, and policemen, an firefighters; privatization of government functions will continue apace; the building of for-profit private prisons will go on; etc., etc.
My brothers and sisters of the "revolution" will continue to occupy, and protest, and interrupt fat-cats meetings, and they will continue to post accounts of brutal beatings of peaceful protesters by police, and hospitalization of patriotic war veterans caused by police brutality.
We will continue to yell "the world is watching," as the abuses increase, born out of the naive belief that anybody who counts really cares. And the fact is that in reality, it does not matter that "the world is watching." The world will watch the authorities pepper-spray you in the face, and beat you, and hospitalize you, and arrest you in mass that, and throw your stuff in the street when you are foreclosed in the middle of winter (based on fraudulent robo-signed paperwork).
And this will continue until two things happen: The realization that we are truly on our own, and that the power structure is a true and real criminal oligarchy (not an abstract concept); And when people realize that for the revolution to succeed, there has to be a high degree of planning, strategy, discipline, and leadership.
Come to conceptualize those two things, and the rest will work itself out...
But, whatever you (we) do, don't give up. It's time to ratchet up the pressure. If not now, when?