Wednesday, October 12, 2011

OWS: "Its roots are in the populist, suffragist, labor, civil rights, women’s, anti-war, environmental and even food movements."

Just the first and last paragraphs reprinted here; pick your way through the hypocritically and hyper-critically outraged neighborhood conservatives to read the remainder.

Finally Making Sense on Wall Street, by Mark Bittman (NY Times Opinionator blog)

Countercultures and alternative systems can be nurturing, educational, illuminating, inspiring — and these are not small things — but they do not bring about fundamental change. Food co-ops, for example, make a difference, but they won’t much alter the way Big Food operates. Historically, the route to fixing broken systems goes through struggle, confrontation and even revolution ...

... The occupation of Wall Street may end with the first extended cold rain. But the renewed understanding that collective struggle is a key component in meaningful change — inspired by things as diverse as the Tea Party and a Tunisian fruit vendor — could not be more important. A movement that questions everything — from food justice to economic justice — is a fine start, and if Occupy Wall Street can push the Democrats as the Tea Party has pushed the Republicans … well, hooray.

No comments: