Making the Occupy Movement Matter

Occupy protesters in support of a noble but ambiguous goal.
Photo: Reuters

The Occupy Wall Street movement is struggling. With urban encampments popping up in dozens of cities around the country and a presidential election just twelve months away, the movement should be perfectly poised to have a significant impact on national policy. That, unfortunately, is not the case.

Instead of spurring meaningful political and economic dialogue, the two biggest elements of the movement currently garnering national interest and media attention are (1) the handful of Occupy outlaws who have inserted themselves into the Oakland arm of the movement, and (2) the movement's inability to develop overriding objectives and to broaden its base of support. 

Slate contributor (and former NY Governor) Eliot Spitzer has stepped up to offer some much-needed structural and tactical advice in the form of eight specific ideas that would advance the Occupy Movement beyond the encampments. The movement has no identified central leadership and Spitzer likely lacks the street cred (or maybe has too much government cred) to take the job, but the folks who are organizing OWS would be well-served to heed Spitzer's suggestions. The movement needs more substance.

Spitzer Makes the Case for Fighting Back

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer makes a strong case in favor of President Obama fighting back hard this week. In the linked article, he eloquently lays out several specific and bold economic proposals the President should put on the table this week.

Apparently, when he's not distracted by whoremongery, the Governor has some pretty smart stuff to say. Seriously though, a few trips to visit your favorite prostitute doesn't invalidate your intellect, just your electability.