You *really* want to scare them? Put draft legislation in every clenched fist.

[Robb]

To elaborate on a point in another thread:

At least two protesters were killed in Cairo today, back out demanding an end to the military rule ushered in when Mubarak was deposed. Several (like seven or eight) hundred were badly injured. And while we're going to hear people say their original protests accomplished nothing, it's not that simple.

They protested to end the reign of Mubarak. And they accomplished that, in no small part because the eyes of the world were focused on them. Mubarak scampered off at the height of the Egyptians' worldwide media exposure -- and the height of their influence. They had a single unified message: dump Mubarak. They got it. But that was all they got.

OWS has been criticized for lacking a single message. That is so wholly beside the point as to be laughable; look what a "single message" got Egyptians. No, the "message" behind OWS is multi-faceted, as it must be. Take money out of elections. Health care is a right. Tax the rich. And so on.

However, as Egyptians are finding out, protests can best effect change not only in being specific with their demands, but in being far-reaching in their goals. Not "far-reaching" in the sense of being "unrealistic," whatever that means, but "far-reaching" as in forward-thinking.

Occupy. And demand. And don't leave until the demand is met. But to succeed in the long term, OWS must make today's demand something that can be met -- because we may not get another chance. Something must be accomplished that will demonstrably change the way the country is run going forward.

For each demand, a draft piece of legislation. A copy of that legislation in every clenched fist in the street. And we don't leave until it passes.

There is no shortage of lawyers, educators, or indeed actual legislators who can work to draft a law that would take money out of elections. Write it. Seed it. Distribute it. Demand it. And write a set of bills that encompass everything OWS wish to accomplish. Do it today, and put it on the street tomorrow.

The message to lawmakers will be clear: it is not only our job that is at stake, but yours -- and in an unmistakably straightforward fashion. We will Occupy until you introduce this set of bills. We will Occupy until you pass them in committee. We will Occupy until you bring them to the floor. And we will Occupy until you pass them in both chambers. And we will Occupy until the President signs them into law.

Then, we'll go home. And you can keep your job. For now.

You really want to scare them?

Occupy this.

[NYC_SKP]

1. K/R. Give us just ONE hero in the Congress and we can move in this direction...

With that one, and continued pressure from our end there may come two, and then four, 16, and more.

Never give up, but we need a hero, a champion.

Inside the building, a senator or representative with courage and conviction.

Where are they?

:patriot:

[Donnachaidh]

2. Bernie Sanders.

Put the thing together --

[Earth_First]

3. +1 n/t

[Robb]

4. He was the first to spring to my mind, too.

[emcguffie]

5. There's also Sherrod Brown.

He always impresses me.

[Robb]

6. Or Kucinich.