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since 1865

Occupy America
Page 27: The wrong moral revolution

The Beginning Is Near! proclaimed one early sign at

New York Citys Liberty Plaza, which since September 17 has been held by a coalition of activists under the
Occupy Wall Street banner. In the early
symbolic politics has landed them in the
days of the action, many on the professpotlight. Wisely, they are taking their
sional left doubted that Occupy Wall
time answering it. So far they have put out
Street would be the beginning of anything.
only one statement, which isnt a list of
Another day, another demo some
demands so much as an indictment of the
shrugged, weary from years of protests
corporate state: We come to you at a time
that never seem to stop another
when corporations, which place
war, another robbery of the poor E D I T O R I A L profit over people, self-interest
by the rich. In Washington, for
over justice, and oppression over
two frustrating years, the debate has been
equality, run our governments.
focused on how much austerity to have
The fact is, we on the left dont have
the slash-and-burn policies of the Repuba scarcity of policy ideas. Weve staged
lican Party or the austerity-lite measures
big rallies with detailed demands. Weve
of President Obama. More stimulus, we
called for a financial transactions tax and
were told, was a nonstarter. Hope seemed
abolishing the carried-interest tax loopa distant, perhaps false, memory.
hole, which benefits Wall Streeters. But
But thankfully, the young protesters at
we have lacked the power to put our ideas
the heart of Occupy Wall Street are not
into practice.
so cynical. The kids are alright! They may
Some are suggesting that, like the Tea
have lost faith in the key institutions of
Party, the grassroots Occupy moveAmericathe elected officials, the media,
ment should yoke itself to an electoral
the banksthat ought to be steering the
agenda and push it from below. But the
country out of economic crisis, but they
analogy is flawed: Occupy Wall Street
have not lost faith in the people. Yes,
isnt like the Tea Party. For one thing,
theyre angry, but they are also searching
its a lot younger, both demographically
and optimistic and, above all, they have
and historically: it has not been gestattaken matters into their own hands.
ing since the Goldwater era, honing its
The beginning really is near. The octalking points in local school boards and
cupation of Wall Street has grown from
churches. For another, its independent:
hundreds to thousands, and more than
it lacks the explicit links to a partisan
115 parallel occupations have cropped up
Beltway infrastructure that comes with
in cities around the world, from Occupy
sponsorship by right-wing billionaires.
Boston to Occupy Los Angeles to Occupy
But most important, whereas the Tea
Finland. Crucially, labor and civil society
Party feigns indignation at Washington
groups like the SEIU, the Teamsters, the
while finding itself well served by its
Transit Workers, New York Communicorruption, this movement is a genuine
ties for Change and others have come on
protest against politics as usual.
board, not to take over the occupation
Certainly, there is room for other
from the amateurs but to join them, won
approaches. And perhaps the outrage
over by their DIY spirit.
embodied by Occupy Wall Street will
But what does Occupy Wall Street
find an outlet at the ballot box or in
want? Whether with condescension or
legislation one day. For now, though,
curiosity, that is the question being posed
its energy is where we need it
to the young people whose brilliant act of
in the streets.

Inside
2

Letters
Editorials & Comment

3 Occupy America
4 Mobilizing a Movement
PETER DREIER

5 Noted
8 Labour Finds Its Voice
D.D. GUTTENPLAN

Columns
6 Deadline Poet
CEO
CALVIN TRILLIN

9 Beat the Devil

The Drone Empire
ALEXANDER COCKBURN

10 Subject to Debate
Ban Birth Control? They Wouldnt Dare
KATHA POLLITT

Articles
11 Twenty Years Later
We Still Believe Anita Hill
PATRICIA J. WILLIAMS, LETTY COTTIN POGREBIN,
KIMBERL WILLIAMS CRENSHAW, KATHA POLLITT,
JESSICA VALENTI

18 Primary Challenge to Obama?

Many say he cant win unless hes
forced to embrace progressive ideals.
JOHN NICHOLS

24 Can Marine Le Pen Win in France?

The National Front leader has risen in the
polls by borrowing arguments from the left.
AGNS CATHERINE POIRIER

Books & the Arts

27 BARNETT: Empire of Humanity
DAVID RIEFF

32 Shelf Life
ALEXANDRA SCHWARTZ

33 FUKUYAMA: The Origins of Political Order

THOMAS MEANEY
COVER DESIGN BY OMAR RUBIO; ILLUSTRATIONS
BY JOS CHICAS AND JANNA BROWER
VOLUME 293, NUMBER 17, OCTOBER 24, 2011
THE DIGITAL VERSION OF THIS ISSUE IS AVAILABLE
TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS OCTOBER 6 AT THENATION.COM

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