OWS means absolutely nothing if we do not see any real change

[Hugabear]

OWS will be for naught if we don't get real, significant change. Predatory capitalism has to come to an end. There is no other alternative. My fear is that we may see some sort of window dressing, some patronizing offer of "change". A few years from now, the OWS protests will be but a page in history, and things will basically be the same. Honestly, I don't know if simple peaceful protests will be enough to accomplish the change that we need. We need something akin to the Civil Rights movement of the 60s - and even that didn't solve all the racial problems and discrimination in this country.

[ChandlerJr]

1. And quite frankly all the "Anti-War" protests of the '60s really only

accomplished an end to the draft in December of '72. The war went on until "they" decided to declare it over in 1975 with the fall of Saigon.

[Kennah]

2. Environmental Movement rose out of it, and that's a HUGE plus that lives still today

Might be the thing that saves civilization.

[nevergiveup]

3. There will always be racial problems and discrimination and

the wealthy will always be stomping on the poor but we keep fighting hoping to make it a little better for the next generation. When I was a kid they were still lynching blacks in the South and to openly declare yourself as a "homosexual" was paramount to suicide. The fight for equal justice and fairness to all is ongoing. It will never end.

[Amonester]

4. Things will not be the same. It is just the beginning.

Give it some time on its own. It's a GLOBAL movement now (the globality of it starts tomorrow).

No. It will not solve all the problems at once. It is not realistic to expect it will.

But it's much better to at least HAVE a GLOBAL CONSCIOUSNESS movement like this, instead of STILL NOT having one at all.

Thanks to every human being involved! :)

V (asking GOOD questions! "reflecting" on this ultimate destruction system of ours):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x624637

[sandyshoes17]

5. I agree Amonester

At least they are doing something, and raising awareness, Instead of sitting at the computer or tv and getting angry, writing letters and email, etc. That hasn't worked. They are on the streets and I am proud of them. This country needs a hard yank to the left. We've gone too far right. It might not do alot, but maybe it can push us in the right direction. We can't let this momentum go.

[Amonester]

7. Plus, it opens up a wide range of new networking opportunities

that were not really there before.

It doesn't effect much change to kind of just stay in the same forums or limited sites we usually (speaking of myself here) consider 'home' on the tube. I suspect a lot of people are in this situation. Now, I'm going to the Oct. 15 Occupy rally here tomorrow, which I would never have done had #OWS not happened to begin with, where I'll meet many new friends and occupiers! :)

[Zorra]

9. +1

It's awesome to be there on the street, Amonester.

I'm pretty sure you are going to totally love it.

We're like family, we all know that we have to fend off the wolves and work together if we want to feed the kids and save the farm.

Hope inspiring.

[MFrohike]

6. Ok, t his is a bit romantic, but

The Irish tried for independence multiple times before they were actually successful. The men who made up the Easter Rising in 1916 didn't expect to succeed at all, they just wanted to continue the tradition of an uprising in every generation. They didn't succeed, but that rising produced the people who would just a few years later.

[lunasun]

8. a step or bridge or leap, it still moves us forward

[crazyjoe]

10. the only change i've seen so far is a 10 week high in the stock market

[blindpig]

11. OWS will not have any substantial policy effect, but....

what it does for class consciousness, for the developing class analysis, could be very significant, indeed.

[FarCenter]

12. What do you propose to replace predatory capitalism with?

So far I don't see a practical alternative emerging.

Although, I do think that it is likely that global tensions will increase over the next few decades, leading to a couple decades of global war and the end of capitalism.

But, it is unclear what the outcome will be.

[Coyote_Bandit]

13. I love what the OWS protestors are doing

but I do wish they would do oe more thing - put forth a very specific plan to address the things they rightfully protest.

Yes, some are doing that. But it is not a uniform agenda.