Why no figurehead for OWS works best.

[JNelson6563]

Please forgive me if this has been broadly discussed here already, I don't read as regularly as I used to so I miss many threads.

With OWS the big going-on right now, naturally there are many ideas regarding just who it is that should serve as the Big Kahuna, as it were. Who's the "leader"?

IMO this is why this movement is so successful, there isn't any one person who is at the top of the heap. This also means there is no one for the corporate media and the 1%ers to shine a glaring spotlight on and make the issue all about them. There is no personality to assassinate and make the #1 topic of all the bobble-heads on TeeVee.

There is nothing to do but to focus on the movement itself. The reporters have to actually mingle with the unwashed masses. I've seen a blurb of Jon Stewart making fun of the reporters dressing all "street" to go among the commoners.

I think the longer this goes on the better. Hopefully the temptation of putting someone at the head of the table will be avoided. The efforts to make the leader thing happen will be driven either by those who have a hero they want to shine this increasingly bright spotlight on or the ego of someone "famous" to seize this publicity goldmine for themselves.

Stand together as one, the true 99% of us will remain strong enough to affect change. The minute there become individual targets, the sooner we start getting divided and falling away.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Julie

[sandyshoes17]

1. My sentiments exactly.

Took the words right out of my mouth. It is perfect just the way it is, we just need to grow it from here. Things will form at the right time. Right now, we have them wondering and that is good. This is not a side thing it's a people thing , which scares the hell out of them. They may act like they are ignoring or mocking, but they are watching very close, don't let it fool you.

[polichick]

2. Agreed - k&r. Funny about reporters among the "unwashed masses" lol.

[Ship of Fools]

3. I agree, but what's happened about Lech Walesa (sp?) Was he not supposed to attend?

[JNelson6563]

12. I heard he will attend.

But that's different. I applaud those who have much fame stopping by to encourage the protesters. As long as they don't then assume the mantle of leadership.

Julie

[PETRUS]

4. Agreed. K&R nt

[exelwood]

5. I agree...

...the minute you get a "leader" it's all about them and the people doing the hard work (living in fucking tents) fade into the back ground.

[RevStPatrick]

6. Totally agree.

I think it's perfect this way.
I also think it's best that there aren't one or two "demands" to be met, and ultimately shot down.
It's the system. Not a personality or a program to fix some thing.
The entire system.

[Fool Count]

7. If there was a figurehead, he (or she) would be now fighting

extradition to Sweden on rape charges. Just saying.

[LiberalEsto]

8. Reminds me of Yippie!

Yippie! was an anti-war group that was started by Jerry Robin and Abbie Hoffman in the late 1960s. The idea was that EVERYBODY was a Yippie! organizer. I took part in a lot of Yippie! street theater and protests. One of the local newspapers for some reason anointed me a Yippie! spokesperson. It was great fun twisting the reporters' little heads around.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_International_Party

"The Yippies had no formal membership or hierarchy. "

[starroute]

9. It's the "Anonymous" model

And it's working really well.

[nichomachus]

10. I was planning on joining our local protest

Then, I saw a photo in the paper of one held days earlier. There was a guy in a suit with a feaking podium, reading from a script. No thanks. That's not a protest. It's a political speech. The time for that has passed.

I wish I were in New York. Hell, I wish I were in Madrid. Protest AND paella.

[AntiFascist]

11. The Status Quo can't stand it...

without a leader there is no single person to target. When a large population of people rise up together and speak with a strong united voice then it is difficult for them to divide and conquer.