"These movements have erupted in two of the major emergent powers of the
21st century where economies have been growing fast. I do not think this
is a coincidence. Ordinary Turks and Brazilians, particularly young
people, are reacting to a feeling of global forces beyond their control;
they are reminding leaders swept up in boom times of the need for
consultation and accountability; they are telling the hyper-connected
financiers who have profited most that social justice — society itself —
matters. By gathering, by occupying, they are asserting a shared
humanity against atomizing development and the globalized shopping mall.
Can they get from 'No' to 'Go'? It will take organization on a scale not
yet seen, decisions on objectives and, yes, leaders. But I do not see
it all ending in pizza. From Tunis to Istanbul, from Cairo to São Paulo,
something essential has already happened. Fear has fallen. That in
itself is a game-changer."
I agree that the protests are good at saying what is wrong, but not good at providing a fix. OWS tried to correct that by having General Assemblies to find solutions. But that is the clunkiest method ever devised for trying to move forward.
But I do believe there are solutions. Our current federal legislative system has frozen. But local and regional systems are still viable. It may take more local approaches to fix things as well as can be on that level first, while working on a solution for federal gridlock.
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