Should #OWS make its presence felt at the polls?

[MrScorpio]

Is it a good idea for #OWS to organize itself to take on the upcoming elections, or should it not and stay focused on just the banks and Wall Street?

[Selatius]

1. OWS is and should continue to be the inconvenient messenger, the person who speaks truth to power.

I would say the best course of action for OWS is to act as a pressure group, advocating a list of issues that need to be addressed, regardless of which party is in power.

Any group or organization that decides to enter party politics and chooses to support one party over another ceases to be a pressure group. It is now a political faction within a party, and it will carry with it, deservedly or undeservedly, the political baggage that that party has.

OWS' power comes from speaking to all people regardless of political affiliation. That power would be diminished if becomes an entity of one party or another. The Republicans are having a hard time pigeonholing OWS as a creation of the Democratic Party. On the other hand, they don't have that kind of problem with the labor unions, many of whom consistently support Democrats regardless if they deliver or not.

[MrScorpio]

2. Perhaps the NRA's or AARP's organizational models could apply?

Both use influential pressure on the political system for their own means.

Perhaps #OWS could morph into an entity that advocates against economic injustice in much the same way as those two?

[Skip_In_Boulder]

3. Agreed

I could possible change my opinion as we get closer to the election but for the moment I think your plan is better.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. It doesn't need to directly address politics to have an effect on the next elections

Let the politicians come to it, it does not need to go to the politicians.

[JoePhilly]

5. Other .... Do Both .... stay active ... AND vote too.

[boston bean]

6. not the polls, but they should make themselves felt at congress, senate, and presidency.

[LWolf]

7. Of course it should.

Any politician who is not willing to occupy government on our behalf ought to be voted out in favor of someone who will.

Edited to add:

What protest is NOT political?

[Lyric]

8. Not in terms of invading polling places, but in terms of issues? Hell yes.

We need to push issue-based voting. Nothing kills the establishment like people voting issues instead of parties. It actually makes them ACCOUNTABLE for once.

[MindandSoul]

9. Agreed!

[masmdu]

10. B O T H ! If not the change will be limited

[HappyMe]

11. What's wrong with both.

Without voting or any political involvement, very little will be changed.

[TBF]

12. NO - the strength of OWS is it's non-partisanship

As soon as they corral them into voting booths the power will be silenced.

[Erose999]

13. I think these voters will certainly be a presence at the polls whether the movement organizes that w

way or not.

Its a shame they will have a choice between Obama and Mittens though. Heads or tails its still the same quarter.