Why having no leader, and affiliating with no groups, is making OWS successful

I have been noticing 'establishment' individuals, from right wingnuts to Dems, writing articles in the media about how OWS needs a leader or group to express its goals, etc.

I couldn't disagree more.

The very fact that it has no leader and affiliates itself with no groups has made it grow. It has spread through every city and state. It is not backing down.

Here are my reasons why I believe establishment people want the OWS to come up with leaders, and why OWS should NOT elect leaders, nor affiliate itself with any groups:

1) The moment it elects leaders and affiliates itself with groups, people will believe that the problems are being taken care of and will get off the streets, and stop being in the news. That's what corporations want, for OWS to shut up.

2) The moment people go home, OWS is dead.

3) IF the OWS had leaders and groups, the first thing that would happen is the govt would ask them to make concessions, first by getting its people off the streets, and cease being a 'hindrance,' which is how corporations and the govt see the OWS movement.

4) Once that happens, corporations and banks will once again be in the clear, and the message that corporations and banks ARE the 'bad guys' will disappear.

5) While OWS is out there, with everyone feeling important, with everyone making up their own signs, it will continue growing and spreading throughout the U.S.

6) While OWS is out there, spreading throughout cities and towns, the message will leak to young people, to universities, to workers, to anyone who visibly SEES the protesters, and they will do searches and find out what OWS is about, and find out what is really wrong with this country - corporations and banks, and the way they lobby and campaign finance to elect leaders beholden to them (corporations and banks).

7) The moment it elects leaders and are cajoled into talking people to going home and getting off the streets, the MEDIA (who is always always always complicit with corporations and banks) will be able to keep OWS silent once again.

8) The only reason the MEDIA is forced into reporting OWS *is* because people are out in the streets, being VISBLE.

It is VITALLY IMPORTANT that OWS continue leaderless and spreading, and ignore the corporations, banks, govt. and their lackeys and representatives, so adamantly asking OWS to come up with leaders, so the movement will DIE.

I have this paragraph by Chris Hedges on my desktop; you have expanded eloquently on his thoughts:

"they" have no target to shoot. brilliant.

I also think Obama is wise to walk the fine line he is. People who say he should come out and make a wholehearted statement of support don't seem to realize a few things.

First, the president has already acknowledged the movement as a true grassroots expression of anger and frustration at the financial inequality of the country and the government's failure to remedy it. He agrees with their assessment.

Second, the OWS movement has clearly stated they don't want politicians in the mix, as it then would become a political, not social movement.

Third, President Obama's involvement would be the opportunity for his haters to deliver the kiss of death. EVERY RW media outlet, pundit, politician, and spokesperson would be screaming their crap from the rooftops until November 2012.

The president is doing the Occupy movement a huge favor, IMO, by not giving the idiots that opening.

and don't need a shepherd or a a herd leader.

We can think for ourselves, achieve consensus for ourselves, and act in concert as a complete collection of individuals comprised only of leaders.

This, IMO, is a great explanation of who we are:


Great post, Sarah, thanks.

repost your image. It didn't show up.

“The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.” Marie Beyle - aka Stendahl

It already happened with Julian Assange. They hate this kind of amorphous, relentless push...especially because it requires them to do things that make them look like what they are(amoral predators) rather than what they spend billions of dollars every year trying to look like(Enlightened Benefactors of us).

I posted this in another thread. If free speech = virtually unlimited Money. Then free speech = virtually unlimited assembly .
Ok you can't yell fire in a theatre. But as long as the people's business is not abridged and neighbors not kept up all night in their homes, go for it
In other words, stay in front of the city halls. Just don't block people from entering buildings or cars/trucks using driveways and workers from parking, and be vigil- like after 11 pm. No drums loud music etc Keep as big a presence as possible. All winter. Assist those who stay. Rotate in and out if necessary Learn snow camp techniques. Then come next year.... Have mother gatherings all spring summer and fall through the election,

It's really really simple to NOT give the authorities reason to clear you out .
The constitution overrides all local time place and manner restrictions if the occupy is REASONABLE. Get it.