Glenn Greenwald: What's Behind the Scorn for the Wall Street Protests?

[Karmadillo]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/09/28-9

What's Behind the Scorn for the Wall Street Protests?
by Glenn Greenwald

<edit>

A siginificant aspect of this progressive disdain is grounded in the belief that the only valid form of political activism is support for Democratic Party candidates, and a corresponding desire to undermine anything that distracts from that goal. Indeed, the loyalists of both parties have an interest in marginalizing anything that might serve as a vehicle for activism outside of fealty to one of the two parties (Fox News' firing of Glenn Beck was almost certainly motivated by his frequent deviation from the GOP party-line orthodoxy which Fox exists to foster).

The very idea that the one can effectively battle Wall Street's corruption and control by working for the Democratic Party is absurd on its face: Wall Street's favorite candidate in 2008 was Barack Obama, whose administration -- led by a Wall Street White House Chief of Staff and Wall-Street-subservient Treasury Secretary and filled to the brim with Goldman Sachs officials -- is now working hard to protect bankers from meaningful accountability (and though he's behind Wall Street's own Mitt Romney in the Wall Street cash sweepstakes this year, Obama is still doing well); one of Wall Street's most faithful servants is Chuck Schumer, the money man of the Democratic Party; and the second-ranking Senate Democrat acknowledged -- when Democrats controlled the Congress -- that the owners of Congress are bankers. There are individuals who impressively rail against the crony capitalism and corporatism that sustains Wall Street's power, but they're no match for the party apparatus that remains fully owned and controlled by it.

But much of this progressive criticism consists of relatively (ostensibly) well-intentioned tactical and organizational critiques of the protests: there wasn't a clear unified message; it lacked a coherent media strategy; the neo-hippie participants were too off-putting to Middle America; the resulting police brutality overwhelmed the message, etc. etc. That's the high-minded form which most progressive scorn for the protests took: it's just not professionally organized or effective.

Some of these critiques are ludicrous. Does anyone really not know what the basic message is of this protest: that Wall Street is oozing corruption and criminality and its unrestrained political power -- in the form of crony capitalism and ownership of political institutions -- is destroying financial security for everyone else? Beyond that, criticizing protesters for the prominence of police brutality stories is pure victim-blaming (and, independently, having police brutality highlighted is its own benefit).

more..

[ixion]

1. great quote:

Does anyone really not know what the basic message is of this protest: that Wall Street is oozing corruption and criminality and its unrestrained political power -- in the form of crony capitalism and ownership of political institutions -- is destroying financial security for everyone else?

[Aerows]

16. Exactly!

Glenn hit that one out of the park.

[TheKentuckian]

2. Fuckin' A!

[malaise]

3. My favorite quote

Some of these critiques are ludicrous. Does anyone really not know what the basic message is of this protest: that Wall Street is oozing corruption and criminality and its unrestrained political power -- in the form of crony capitalism and ownership of political institutions -- is destroying financial security for everyone else? Beyond that, criticizing protesters for the prominence of police brutality stories is pure victim-blaming (and, independently, having police brutality highlighted is its own benefit).

[myrna minx]

4. K&R n/t

[Bragi]

5. The protesters need professional PR consultants

:sarcasm:

Great analysis from Greenwald.

[pmorlan1]

6. K & R

As usual, Greenwald nails it.

[Starry Messenger]

7. k&r

[Solly Mack]

8. k/r

[Overseas]

9. K&R. Well said.

[flamingdem]

10. It's premature and divisive to say there is scorn for the Wall St. protests

Just because not everyone identifies with their tactics doesn't mean scorn.

[suffragette]

11. K&R

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Defending the status quo is priority for both the major parties.

They both fear the people will realize their power and take matters into their own hands instead of obeying the masters.

[Karmadillo]

13. There's nothing worse than serfs who do not know their place.

nt

[MisterP]

14. to good little machine politicos, all action must be channeled through the Party and the Nominee

the Nominee is made the receptacle of all that is good in the world, all hopes--a conception of politics that works great for lackeys and sycophants

"Power" by The Temptations

My hands are clean, my heart is so pure
The world is sick, I am the cure
I don't want no money, or golden gifts
Give me your mind and souls to lift

Put your faith and trust in me
I'll move your marchers watch and see

All you poor, all you needy
All you're doing, is giving to the greedy
All you poor, all you needy
All you're doing, is giving to the greedy

Get off your knees, belive in me, I'll set you free
All I need is a little
Power
Power
Power
Power

I have for you, a master plan, (tell it)
I'll lead you to the promised land
I'll give you peace (peace)
I'll give you pride (pride)
I'll save you from the suicide

I'm your hope
One salvation
One man united nation

All you poor, all you needy
All you're doing, is giving to the greedy
All you poor, all you needy
All you're doing, is giving to the greedy

Tell me your fears, I'll be your friend, I won't don't you in
All I need is a little
Power
Power
Power
Power

[bvar22]

15. K&R for Greenwald & the Wall Street Protesters!

Their message is Crystal Clear.

Main Street,
NOT Wall Street!



Who will STAND and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?
The Wall Street Protesters WILL!!

You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[gratuitous]

17. But some of them are wearing funny clothes

Others are wearing those V for Vendetta masks. You can't take them seriously. They're saying too many different things. It confuses my little brain. The media aren't covering them with the same fawning attitude that they used for the Tea Baggers last year. It's all just epic fail, it is. So there.

Someday someone somewhere will launch the Perfect Protest, wearing just the right clothes with just the right mix of message and theater, and all the Goldilocks Nit Pickers will check their reservations at the door, quit sniping from the sidelines, and get off their sit-upons and do something, too.

And if monkeys are going to fly out of my butt, I should at least stand up.

[DirkGently]

18. Yep. Doesn't fit the singleminded, sportsfan partisanship model at all.

[Mnemosyne]

19. Get up! Stand up! Stand up for our rights! n/t

[2banon]

20. Glenn Greenwald challenged my intial reactions, and now I see how wrong that reaction was!

i like to think of myself as one who challenges conventional mindsets and attitudes particulary as defined by the Corporate Media.. Yesterday i expressed somewhat negative reactions to the lack of clarity etc etc as I viewed various video's ... but after reading Greenwald's piece here I see how easy it is to get sucked into that brainwashing mindset.. Thank you for posting this excellent piece and thank you Glenn Greenwald!

:thumbsup: :applause: :thumbsup: