Groups relating to anti-war/peace movements stand on corners every weekend, all day for years, ... not effective.

standing there is a connection to all the others, some much larger yes. What is NOT effective is to do nothing.

What are you doing? You are free to start your own group. The Chicago OWS eg, started with three young women, who rather than criticize their town because no one had started anything yet, went out and started it themselves. It quickly grew to hundreds, then thousands and is very strong and part of the larger Global Movement. Like all social justice movements, they will not be marching in the thousands each day, that doesn't mean they are not effective and thriving and ready to join the national groups when needed.

Each group, and there are hundreds across this country alone, is a snowflake in a gathering storm.

If a few dozen folks standing on corners would have ever made a difference, the many times anti-war and peace protesters over the past 12 years or so would've made a diff, they haven't, and they sprung up from very, VERY large protests nationally and internationally regarding USA instigation of ME wars.

It's naive to not see this. Occupy, pretty much on every level, in virtually every place, has ended up fizzling out, though we all owe a huge debt of gratitude for their wrenching the MSM to finally focus on income inequality and such.

OWS has 'fizzled out' because the MSM has stopped covering it. That actually is a good thing, because their coverage was biased naturally, but OWS is very much alive and very active and will only grow unless the main issues that created the movement, all over the world in the first place, are resolved, and there is no sign of that happening.

No movement has ever been on the streets every day of the year in the millions. They will do that when necessary, but there is other work to be done, which they are doing, work that should have been done by Congress, but wasn't, such as stopping foreclosures, starting their own banks, occupying the courts and winning most of their cases, to name just a few of the actions they are engaged in.

They have done more to keep people in their homes in a few months, than our Government has done in years.

As for the people standing on the corner, they are not alone, unlike during the anti-war movement when there was no central movement to connect to when necessary.

As I said, doing nothing is a problem, those people are doing something and are to be applauded for it.

And you're wrong, many of the anti-war/peace activists did exactly (actually not exactly the same because they were at the corners every weekend day all day) the same as these folks for YEARS, to no avail.

Having a movement be "alive" isn't the same as it being effective. Worldwide societies are rolling over; Ireland, Greece, with more upcoming. Even Hollande, a liberal ray of hope, is mostly cowing to austerity demands that foment more inequality. I was hopeful, but alas, it ain't working.

Your unrealistic expectation that OWS could stop the Global Cartels from destroying Europe in just a few months, is amazing. Where did they ever claim to have the power to do that? The purpose of the movement was to bring about an awareness of what was going on. They have accomplished that but they sure never thought they would have solved everything by now.

What they have done is participate in the elections that are swinging European governments back to the left. France and Greece eg. Are you seriously saying that ordinary people should have overturned hundreds of governments installed by the most powerful Global Corporate interests in the history of the world?

I think you never understood this movement. But those Global Corporate interests certainly view it as the threat that it is if allowed to grow. That is evident in the coordinated and brutal attacks on unarmed citizens across the globe by their Corporate Army of Robo Cops, now armed with military weapons and fully prepared to use them on the people.

And yes, it is a threat when the people show signs of waking up. But I have met no one who ever thought that this movement would fix everything in a few months. This is going to take years and years. I'm sorry you expected miracles, most of us did not even expect what has already been accomplished, considering the huge forces we expected to be up against.

So far so good, now on the next phase.

Whereas the analogy of the anti-war/peace movement has proofed it's pudding and what it proved was that it was ineffective.

I sincerely hope your right. But as with Obama, I expect my hope will be dashed and the ugly status quo will continue through my lifetime.

OWS was constructed very differently from the Anti-war movement. And the PTBs are determined to crush this movement because it was far more effective and did put a voice to what a majority of people were already thinking. That was a huge threat to the status quo. But unless things change, like all other movements, it will not go away.

I seriously doubt that will be the case anytime soon.

Here a small group, spending less than a day a week, are being heralded as effective. There is ample proof those small recurring groups that spend ALL weekend protesting every weekend for years were ineffective, which is a valid comparison for the probability that the one mentioned here will also be entirely ineffective.

If you don't like that data, put your head in the sand.

If you just like to try to paint others with your hatred, carry on, I guess, you only cause reflection upon yourself.

...oh wait that's just you!!!

Since you mention the word data you must have some HARD facts to back it up. Otherwise your pulling "data" from your ass.

Define "effective"....in what, according to whom? Define "small recurring groups"...how big, with what frequency? Probability...of what? C'mon you are just spouting talking points & pretending to be calm & objective.

It dishonesty like yours that is sad. Why not put some effort to help Social Justice instead of typing slams on a keyboard?

The real work is one on one which we do as well. It beats doing nothing.

by that huge army of robo cops all over the world wherever they are.

Thanks for the old rightwing talking points, but they are already very familiar to us.

We heard them, almost exactly the same ones way back in Sept of last year with the prediction that they would all 'be gone by the end of the weekend' because 'those hippies, (what's with the rightwing obsession with hippies btw), would not be able to 'camp out' longer than that as they would all need to get back to their 'comfortable suburban homes in their daddies and mommies expensive McMansions. etc. etc. etc.

We are always grateful to hear Fox News talking points here, since most of us refuse to be subjected to that torture. Credit to you for having the fortitude to do so, though.

Now sit comfortably on your couch & do nothing.

I lived in Kingwood for 12 years and was a member of KAD. I appreciate the efforts of you and everyone in the area trying to raise awareness one person at a time.. Have since moved back to Missouri but have many friends still there. Keep the faith and turn Texas blue.

People in your town know your group is there and that you are are not afraid to speak your minds.

That's cool.

Keeping your face out there & doing outreach is important.

Many folks think Occupy is a flash in the pan & will go away soon. The longer you are there the more respect you garner from the populace in general.

When I come home from an Occupy L.A. gathering & read posts from another Occupy I get a good feeling inside. Especially with all the bullshit drama that goes on at some of OLA's get-togethers...sorry to rant, but a good day of learning at OLA ended VERY badly (I will go no further).

Peace & Solidarity
U4ikLefty

Occupy will not go away because there are Americans out there waiting in the trenches for an opportunity to stand up in some way for their country and their rights. For several months now, I have been over here in WV wishing that some of you would head this way. I watched patiently as my fellow teachers were fighting the war in Wisconsin. It is a shame that money won there. We cannot give up. A few of us out there speaking are better than no one. I am ill with cancer but, I sit here and think about the women of my generation. We grew up with rights. Now, the government and the Republicans want to take us back 40 years. The new voices of the young in America have to rise up to fight for a future that may not exist if their voices are not heard. We need to take to the streets in support of healthcare. We need to make sure others understand what is happening. Many are nieve and do not follow politics. These are the ones we must reach before the lies distort the land. Kudos to you all and keep on keeping on!