This is Not Animal Farm
Occupy Chicago, LaSalle and Jackson, 2011 |
One of the reoccurring themes of the Occupy Movement is that
a better world is possible. Another is building community. Yet, another is
alternatives to capitalism. How is that going to happen? How is Occupy going to
build a community which shows the wider audience how alternatives work?
The primary resource of Occupy is the pool of energetic and
willing human beings. From this gathering people can use their knowledge to
make and market a product which will guarantee cash flow to the individuals
involved and to the movement. We know there is an abundance of artists within
Occupy. The question is: is there an abundance of artisans within Occupy willing
to share their skills on the promise of a little gain?
Can a group pool their resources to purchase enough raw materials
to make one item which the general public will want? Is there one who can
transport the raw material to a location to work on it? Is there a person who
has a tool necessary to shape the material? Is there another with yet another
tool needed? Is there another who has the tool to finish the material? Is there
another who can negotiate a good deal with a consignment shop who will bring it
to the market? Is there a person who has the place where the product will be
assembled? Is there one who will take the finished good to the place where it is
to be displayed and marketed? Will the product, once done, be of such high
quality to shame the consumable garbage being foisted upon the general public,
and bring others to the consignment shop looking for more? Is there a group who
will engage in such micro economic ventures on a shared basis?
These questions are not asked to chide Occupy for failing to
move in this direction. These questions are here to get Occupy thinking of how
it can build a viable economy that will benefit the movement, and build
community around a common goal that is not continual confrontation with
authority.
Occupy Chicago, LaSalle and Jackson, May 20, 2011 |
While confrontation with authority in the world is
necessary, that direct action does not add to the economic base of Occupy.
Occupy as a whole needs to start building its own economic base in order to
achieve its own ends of building a better world based on an alternative social
modeling approach to humanity, and human industry.
If Occupy is not willing to actively, and aggressively work on building the economic underpinnings of a better world, then the rest of the 99% is going to have to pick it up. We cannot keep perpetuating the 1% model. It is simply not viable.
If Occupy is not willing to actively, and aggressively work on building the economic underpinnings of a better world, then the rest of the 99% is going to have to pick it up. We cannot keep perpetuating the 1% model. It is simply not viable.
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