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ROBERT IN OHIO

Independent with strong values and political opinions
Articles Posted: 19  Links Seeded: 41
Member Since: 11/2010  Last Seen: 5/17/2012

People at the Capitol Building – Talking and Sitting Around While Nothing Gets Done– What's New?

Seeded on Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:22 AM EST
Read ArticleArticle Source: The San Francisco Chronicle
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Seeded by Robert in Ohio
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As the Occupy Movement comes to Washington, D.C. and the Capitol Building, instead of 535 people sitting around, talking a lot and getting very little done for the American people, we will have thousands engaged in that process.

 

I think the Occupy movement has percolated up some great ideas that need action by the government to affect necessary changes in laws and regulations, but in my opinion the time to turn those ideas into political activity by electing advocates has come.

Participants say they plan to decry the influence of corporate money in politics and show the House of Representatives what real democracy looks like.

And it sounds as if the participants will conduct themselves as out elected officials do on a daily basis in the Capitol Building

Participants say the daylong demonstration will be peaceful, although it's possible some will risk arrest

Your comments, counterpoints and remarks are welcomed and appreciated.

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Robert in Ohio

I applaud the message of the Occupy Movement and hope that at least parts of their agenda are transformed into legislation and regulations, but question how much effect that a "sit in" at the Capitol Building will have much effect.

It is time for advocates to be supported and elected to effect the change the movement advocates and in my opinion the "civil disobedience" phase has served a valid and broad purpose but it is time to take action to elect advocates.

The last thing we need at the Captiol Bulding is anything that distracts the House and the Senate from getting what little they might get done accomplished.

Comments, counterpoints and remarks welcomed and appreciated.

    Reply#1 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:26 AM EST
    Chris-382117

    Robert,

    I complete agree with you. the Civil Disobedience and Crapping in the park has garnered the media's attention; now it is time to get people to stand for office and get them elected just like the Tea Party did. You may not agree with what they are doing, but the Tea party worked through the system in order to "change the way that Washington does business." Now it is time for OWS to do the same thing.

    Change in Washington will only occur from the inside. Unless they are willing to fight for what they believe from the inside, nothing will ever change. We will never have responsible budgets, term limits, accountability, responsibility, money out of politics, or politicians that aren't pre-purchased when they get to Washington unless we get people in office that will fight for those things. if all they have stones enough to do is sit-ins, banging drums, and crying for the camera, they will accomplish nothing and Washington will continue as usual.

    • 1 vote
    #1.1 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:04 PM EST
    Robert in Ohio

    Chris

    Thanks for providing your perspective

    You make good points that it is time for legislators to be elected and legislation to be passed in order to affect the changes that are needed, understanding that not all things that have been "mic checked" will happen right away.

      #1.2 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:36 PM EST
      Reply
      Neetu M.

      I agree with Chris, Robert. We have the right to change things with our votes and that's what we need to exercise wisely. Protesting is good, but protests don't go too far in creating change. They are also a right in a democracy, and important as a means to getting attention to an issue, or related issues. They can lead to, but they do not constitute action for change and, hence, their purpose is short-lived. Last year, I witnessed similar and larger protests in Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, where they were peacefully carried out by literally hundreds of thousands of people. They too voted for change; hopefully it gets them somewhere. Let's hope our vote this year gets us somewhere we want to.

        Reply#2 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:12 PM EST
        Robert in Ohio

        Neetu

        You are so correct.

        We need to carefully select the right candidates for all offices regardless of party affiliation (or even in spite of it) in order to start change in the way things get done in Washington.

        It is foolishness to think that things will be different if the same people are returned to the Senate and House.

        Thanks for your perspective.

          #2.1 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:38 PM EST
          Chris-382117

          Robert, and Neetu,

          We need to carefully select the right candidates for all offices regardless of party affiliation (or even in spite of it) in order to start change in the way things get done in Washington.

          Unfortunately, we don't pick the candidates; the Party does that. If you are not a member of the "Party" and don't show up at the county conventions, you don't have a say. Both parties are now controlled by the Ideologues that believe in Ideological Purity over the right candidate and their choice is all that you get to vote for (no one else gets any money). That IMO is why we, for the past 30+ years, have had nothing but a choice between the lesser of the evils. It reminds me of the old Far Side cartoon of Satin pointing at one of 2 doors labeled "Damned if you do" and "Damned if you don't". That is what has me disillusioned.

            #2.2 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:03 PM EST
            Robert in Ohio

            Chris

            I have become quite active in village, county and state politics of late and am enjoying the people I meet and an ability to make a difference in who gets elected at least locally, if we can get it down at the village and county level it seems that "we the people" should be able to figure something out at the state and national level.

            It will not be easy you are right about that

            If we do not try to get the right people to run for office and then elect them, we really have little room to complain. I am not sure how it gets done exactly, but somehow it has to start at the bottom of the process with each of us voters.

              #2.3 - Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:44 PM EST
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