about the author
Nikhil Kalathil is a guest NGJ Contributor and a second year student at Oberlin College, majoring in Politics and Mathematical Economics. He is from Dedham, MA, and writes as hobby about his various interests.
Just as the Tea Party did in 2009 and 2010, Occupiers have begun to shift American political discourse. We are now more aware of, and more outraged by, the growing income disparity in our country and the pervasive role of money in our elections. This trend may merely be indicative of the cyclical nature of American political interests, but I prefer to believe in the power of Occupy Wall Street and its message.
Concurrently, though, there is something quietly unsettling about the movement. Perhaps it is that I still believe in the capitalist system, and I cringe every time my peers use the words “dirty capitalist” or “bouji.” Or perhaps, it is that I am waiting for the Occupy movement to materialize into a real operation for political change within the confines of our flawed two party system. Occupiers believe that the American political process once belonged to the American people but has since been co-opted by corporations, special interests groups, and big money. The movement is characterized by a desire to reclaim the American political process – a goal that cannot be achieved entirely by operating outside that same system.
Occupiers represent something entirely different from Tea Partiers. While the Tea Party may be comfortable within the sleaze of the existing electoral and legislative system, how could the Occupiers stand for electoral reform while accepting millions in corporate donations? The message of the Occupy movement directly conflicts with the type of political maneuvering currently thought necessary to succeed in today’s political climate. Given this, is it feasible for the movement to follow in the Tea Party’s footsteps?
Tea Partiers have rarely questioned the effectiveness of the electoral process and the results are apparent: between the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and state Governors, there are around 212 candidates either in office or running for office in 2012 that are endorsed by the Tea Party and/or self-identify as Tea Partiers. This change in the make-up of our legislative branch has hindered President Obama’s political agenda while flooding the Congressional floor with Republican and Tea Party-based legislation.
Occupiers seeking political legitimacy need not adopt the same crude electoral strategies as the Tea Party. Instead, Occupiers should hearken back to the grass roots mobilization and organization that defined then-Senator Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. To reclaim the America political process, Occupiers should begin by targeting liberal and left-of- center moderate counties, identifying potential candidates that support their cause, and then rallying the power of the movement behind these candidates.
This is not to say that Occupiers should form their own party. History teaches us that such efforts end poorly and often with serious repercussions. Americans increasingly talk about the “politics of dissolution.” The ideals of the Republican and Democratic parties are no longer representative of the average American’s daily struggle. But by selecting and supporting Democratic or Republican candidates that identify with the Occupiers, Occupiers can begin to change America’s two existing parties.
Reclaiming the American political process involves reclaiming the message of our established institutions. At this stage, identifying one cause or one demand that all Occupiers agree on is impossible. The Declaration of Occupation is a list of grievances, not a set of requests. To wait, however, for a single, common cause, is to wait for Godot. The movement must structure its political agenda around the few issues that a majority of Occupiers agree on.
Contrary to how many would like to portray them, Occupiers are largely well-educated, intelligent, and dedicated individuals. Applying the remarkable proficiency with social networking and organization that they have demonstrated, Occupiers could begin to make American democracy work for them while still remaining true to their principles. If Occupiers are content to protest for months without pay, they should be eager to donate their time and energy to supporting political campaigns that can make a tangible difference.
Furthermore, if the number of unemployed college graduates continues to rise as expected, then the Occupy movement has a vast force of well-educated, motivated individuals to carry on its message. Door to door “get-out-the- vote” efforts coupled with town hall meetings and internet campaigns all manned by Occupiers could begin to change the nature of the American political system. The beauty of American democracy is that one can work within a “broken” system to bring about desired change.
The election of legislators who approve campaign finance reform, who will spend more on education instead of defense, who will work with the President to reform healthcare to satisfy the interests of the so-called ‘average American’ is far more likely to yield results than the occupation of major cities. When elected by volunteers – a mobile, energetic, intelligent group of Americans – these legislators would not be bound to big money, but to their constituents.
So, Occupiers: get out the vote, adapt to the political system, and make it your own.
Want to submit a guest post of your own? Go here.
Concurrently, though, there is something quietly unsettling about the movement. Perhaps it is that I still believe in the capitalist system, and I cringe every time my peers use the words “dirty capitalist” or “bouji.” Or perhaps, it is that I am waiting for the Occupy movement to materialize into a real operation for political change within the confines of our flawed two party system. Occupiers believe that the American political process once belonged to the American people but has since been co-opted by corporations, special interests groups, and big money. The movement is characterized by a desire to reclaim the American political process – a goal that cannot be achieved entirely by operating outside that same system.
Occupiers represent something entirely different from Tea Partiers. While the Tea Party may be comfortable within the sleaze of the existing electoral and legislative system, how could the Occupiers stand for electoral reform while accepting millions in corporate donations? The message of the Occupy movement directly conflicts with the type of political maneuvering currently thought necessary to succeed in today’s political climate. Given this, is it feasible for the movement to follow in the Tea Party’s footsteps?
Tea Partiers have rarely questioned the effectiveness of the electoral process and the results are apparent: between the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and state Governors, there are around 212 candidates either in office or running for office in 2012 that are endorsed by the Tea Party and/or self-identify as Tea Partiers. This change in the make-up of our legislative branch has hindered President Obama’s political agenda while flooding the Congressional floor with Republican and Tea Party-based legislation.
Occupiers seeking political legitimacy need not adopt the same crude electoral strategies as the Tea Party. Instead, Occupiers should hearken back to the grass roots mobilization and organization that defined then-Senator Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. To reclaim the America political process, Occupiers should begin by targeting liberal and left-of- center moderate counties, identifying potential candidates that support their cause, and then rallying the power of the movement behind these candidates.
This is not to say that Occupiers should form their own party. History teaches us that such efforts end poorly and often with serious repercussions. Americans increasingly talk about the “politics of dissolution.” The ideals of the Republican and Democratic parties are no longer representative of the average American’s daily struggle. But by selecting and supporting Democratic or Republican candidates that identify with the Occupiers, Occupiers can begin to change America’s two existing parties.
Reclaiming the American political process involves reclaiming the message of our established institutions. At this stage, identifying one cause or one demand that all Occupiers agree on is impossible. The Declaration of Occupation is a list of grievances, not a set of requests. To wait, however, for a single, common cause, is to wait for Godot. The movement must structure its political agenda around the few issues that a majority of Occupiers agree on.
Contrary to how many would like to portray them, Occupiers are largely well-educated, intelligent, and dedicated individuals. Applying the remarkable proficiency with social networking and organization that they have demonstrated, Occupiers could begin to make American democracy work for them while still remaining true to their principles. If Occupiers are content to protest for months without pay, they should be eager to donate their time and energy to supporting political campaigns that can make a tangible difference.
Furthermore, if the number of unemployed college graduates continues to rise as expected, then the Occupy movement has a vast force of well-educated, motivated individuals to carry on its message. Door to door “get-out-the- vote” efforts coupled with town hall meetings and internet campaigns all manned by Occupiers could begin to change the nature of the American political system. The beauty of American democracy is that one can work within a “broken” system to bring about desired change.
The election of legislators who approve campaign finance reform, who will spend more on education instead of defense, who will work with the President to reform healthcare to satisfy the interests of the so-called ‘average American’ is far more likely to yield results than the occupation of major cities. When elected by volunteers – a mobile, energetic, intelligent group of Americans – these legislators would not be bound to big money, but to their constituents.
So, Occupiers: get out the vote, adapt to the political system, and make it your own.
Want to submit a guest post of your own? Go here.
No comments:
Post a Comment