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Disruptive social initiatives worked before and can again. Ordinary people have power when they mobilize for justice, defy the rules, challenge established institutions, and force political debate on new issues.
Elections don't work. America's a one-party state with two wings. Corrupted media bosses support it. Democracy and social justice are sacrificed for profits. Only fighting the beast and slaying it works. Otherwise the worst of all possible worlds awaits.
OWS activism has possibilities. It's the first social justice initiative since the 1960s. It's long overdue. Jefferson once said:
"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles."
Lyrics from a WW II era song said "We did it before and we can do it again." Indeed so, war triumphalism aside. The battle to end slavery succeeded. Labor and civil rights were gained. Presidents once favored Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other popular measures.
Before his death, Franklin Roosevelt proposed an economic bill of rights. He felt constitutional ones weren't enough. He wanted legislation guaranteeing employment with a living wage, housing, medical care, education, social security, and freedom from unfair competition and monopolies.
Presidents today don't talk that way. Roosevelt wanted more for ordinary people. Obama wants social justice destroyed. Austerity, not vitally needed help, is policy.
Sustained popular resistance for change works. Organized people can beat organized money. Succeeding depends on doing what it takes for as long as it takes.
The Washington/corporate America nexus is venal. Job one is slaying the beast. Yip Harburg's lyrics from "Over the Rainbow" said somewhere "dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."
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