Remember “Occupy Wall Street,” when thousands of people in Zuccatti Park in New York City brought to national attention the subject of economic inequality? While the main stage was in Zuccatti Park, people took to the streets in cities across the U.S. in support of their message.
Occupy Wall Street “began on Sept. 17, 2011 and by Oct. 9 Occupy protests had taken place or were going on in over 951 cities across 82 countries and over 600 communities in the United States,” according to Wikipedia.
“We Are the 99 percent” was a frequent slogan of occupiers.
So, what's the purpose of this diary, beyond looking back on the good old days when people were inspired by the “Arab Spring” and other movements to try to bring attention to how unfair economic and social conditions had become?
The purpose is simple: To suggest that we might need an “Occupy Congress” movement leading up to this November's elections to bring attention to the one percent who are trying to purchase themselves complete control of this country's government.
Democrats have been struggling with the historical fact that turnout is poor among their key constituencies during non-presidential election years. It's what helped fuel the Tea Party successes of 2010, when Tea Partiers helped Republicans take control of the House of Representatives and established significant influence over that body's leadership, as well.
It seems to me that one way to help stimulate turnout among the Democratic base is a full-throttled effort to remind everyone what is at stake in this November's elections. We can do that with an “Occupy Congress” movement. However, in this case, unlike the 2011 movement, there will be a clear objective: for the 99 percent to help take back control of our federal government through direct involvement in Congressional elections.
It seems to me that we progressives can benefit from an Occupy Congress movement of our own, starting with this November's elections. Ideally, based on its success, it will continue into the future until not only do we put the concerns of the 99 percent front and center by both houses of Congress and, in 2016, the White House, but we also overturn Citizens United and ensure we have a Supreme Court that is not a tool of the one percent.
The difference between the previous Occupy movement and Occupy Congress is that we would, literally, be seeking to occupy Congress in the form of representatives who are sensitive to the concerns of the 99 percent. Some already are, but not nearly enough.
Just a thought.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...