Liberty Movement Will Outlast the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street
Submitted by P.Au.L on Fri, 07/06/2012 - 10:35by Robert Taylor | Policy Mic
July 6, 2012
In the last few years, we have witnessed the rise of several protest groups and organizations that have made their voices heard in the public and in the media. On the left, there is the Occupy Movement, on the right, there is the Tea Party.
There is also a self-described "liberty movement," with strong libertarian convictions and influenced by the presidential candidacy and ideas of Ron Paul. Although both the Occupy Movement and the Tea Party highlight legitimate grievances, both groups have obvious inconsistencies and shortcomings. The more principled and focused liberty movement will undoubtedly have the biggest effect on public debate and long-term political trends.
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A lot of hot air but with a precious gem inside
I am not convinced that Ron Paul and you folk have as many answers as you think but all the others have no plans for the future past the next election day.
Ron Paul tries to avoid dwelling on hot button issues like abortion, knowing that the manipulators want us to argue fluff and when it comes to the economy believe politicians are magician who can pull jobs out of the hat. Arguing which one is telling the truth when it is all a lie.
Harry Truman who was later President said, "If we see that Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we ought to help Germany". There would be similar comments on abortion and gay marriage if today's manipulators spoke from the hip Truman style.
In Philly PA RichardKanePA
..
Those issues you cite are not "hot button" issues, but mere distractions from the REAL hot button issues.
Privacy, contract law, sound money, obeying the Constitution are the hot button issues.
The issues you cite are used to divide Americans and distract us from our true liberty issues.
The Ron Paul campaign does not dwell on the issues you have mentioned because he believes all federal law on Drugs, Abortion and Marriage should be left to our 50 states and 4 territories, to decide them.
He believes the larger the issue the more local a solution should be.
Ron Paul has spent thousands of hours addressing these issues, just does not do so on the campaign trail.
Go to you tube and watch some of his speeches on the subjects you described.
He has publicly and private spoken 1000's of times on all of them, but he considers these state issues and speaks little of them on the campaign trail.
"OH NO! He has a SON?" Neoconservatives and Liberals EVERYWHERE!
Rand Paul 2016
Difference?
People say Liberty Movement, OWS Movement and Tea Party Movement as if they're overwhelmingly different. But when you dig deep into the motivation behind all three movements, it's all the same fundamental principal. All factions want freedom. Occupy Wallstreet wants an end to Bankers being in power. The (original) Tea Party wants Bankers to stop receiving bailouts. The Liberty Movement wants to End the Fed, which is the Central Bankers who control the many banks that loot the people, who control Wallstreet crooks, and who control the masses through income tax.
In the end, there's absolutely no difference, when the issues that truly effect us humans, are placed on the table. Think about it, if Ron Paul was to have a debate with Obama, and start talking about the FED as being the driver of the rage behind OWS and the Tea Party, than both sides would see just how much they have in common.
"It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from his government." - Thomas Paine
(╮°-°)╮┳━┳ (╯°□°)╯┻━┻ "RON PAUL 2012 DAMNIT!"
There is a difference
Notice that you had to qualify the Tea Party you speak of as the "original" one. That is to say, it's not the same as the actual Tea Party today, which is an establishment Republican controlled piece of AstroTurf.
Occupy, which unlike the Tea Party is worldwide, is turning into a big labor controlled piece of AstroTurf. It is controlled to a lesser extent than the Tea Party, but that's only because it's younger. The naive economic beliefs of the Occupy movement makes them vulnerable.
The Liberty Movement is worldwide and is much more resistant to being wielded as a tool by the established political class because of our core beliefs.
They all have the same basic
They all have the same basic interests, there is just distortion of the facts. The media has twisted what Occupy was ORIGINALLY about, just like the tea party.
As long as people know something is wrong, we are heading in the right direction. Truth is easier to come by when you're dissenting.
well said! and I don't know
well said! and I don't know that these movements have actually changed at all... just the media coverage/slant on them.
I was under the impression the tea party were only retarded rednecks because that's all the media ever told me about them... then I researched 'em.
I knew Occupy from the get-go, but the reality isn't even remotely similar to what's portrayed in the press. And the attempts to co-opt haven't worked either... the democrats have merely tried to steal the name and language. they've not won-over the people who were part of the original movement, only applied the terms to a new group utilizing the same style.
At their inceptions, the #Liberty, #OccupyWallStreet and #TeaParty movements all had the same basic goal... What happened?
Division... You might as well be a mainstream #Republicrat
this sort of article is part of the reason why the liberty movement is as small as it is.
What I read was:
"We're better and smarter than the larger movements that were so successful the big powers realized that they had to co-opt them or lose power."
If Liberty-minded folks would focus on building bridges rather than trying to remain an island isolated from their brothers on the ultra far left and ultra far right, we might just get something accomplished.
The thing is, that you're just as programmed and manipulated by the media as democrats and republicans. You're so focused on this one point of view that it will never amount to anything. You need to back up and start over with a platform that reaches out instead of blocking out.
Focus on the overlaps.
Overlap w/ OWS:
recognize single-party system - Republicrats
end corruption
end corporatization of USA
end the fed
end the wars
scale back the military
Overlap w/ tea party:
shrink government
scale back government spending
lower taxes
If you choose the right language you can use this stuff to win-over these other groups rather than alienating them. I look at Dr. Paul in the same way I look at Jesus... dude has some great messages, but his followers are bat-shit crazy!
At their inceptions, the #Liberty, #OccupyWallStreet and #TeaParty movements all had the same basic goal... What happened?
I would just like to say....
The Liberty Movement is not covered by the Media at the same level as the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements were. Both were glorified and then ridiculed by the same media outlets as they became diluted by the masses wanting to "jump on board" both movements.
This in itself shows me that the Liberty Movement is something that they don't want anyone getting wind of which would indicate that it carries a lot more influence just based off of its principles. Because by the time someone steps on board and takes off on the Liberty Movement, their knowledge on how corrupt things REALLY are in this world and how it SHOULD be will remain with them for a long time to come. It will be impossible to reverse that frame of mind.
I would urge fellow Daily Paul members that HAVE successfully "converted" anyone to the Ron Paul/Liberty Movement to see what happens after this election is over. See how many of them go back to the dark side and most importantly, see if any of them are easily fooled by the media or politician from here on out. "Our" success rate is a lot higher and longer lasting.
The Liberty Movement is the real deal because we:
1) Have clear principles
2) Won’t violate those principles
3) Will never give up
#3 is the one our opponents will never understand -- that, win or lose, fighting for liberty is its own reward. As a proud American, there is no greater honor than to stand up for liberty. It sounds hokey to say it, but every Paul supporter I’ve met believes it to the core.
It’s also the reason we will ultimately win. Every successful movement in this country -- socialism, prohibitionism, abolitionism -- was spearheaded by a very small number of people who wouldn’t give up.
Tea Party
:D
Help me here Occupy is backed by who?
Occupy Movement both bring important issues to the forefront, they tend to be highly partisan?? I am not Democrat or Republican.
Pretty much against unfair and lack of accountabilty
The Spain's OWS Just did some good and we don't even hear it because the 99.99 doesn't own the media the .0001% do!
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/7/5/something_is_starting_t...
Ron Paul is the MAN!
Just want what seems to be missing, Truth and Justice for ALL
What is fraud except creating “value” from nothing and passing it off as something?
you claim to not be partisan....
But you cite democracynow??? LOLz
so whose liberty...
...are you fighting for? Your very own?
You telling us WHAT not TO READ???!!!
Ron Paul ... forever.
If your afraid of the truth.
I don't care who says it.
and my guess your a paid troll.
:-)
Democracy now has more good to say about Ron Paul than Fox
But when Fox says it I run with it also.
In fact watch the video.. from Democracy now.
The Spain OWS is holding some bankers accountable.
That nothing that Obama or Mitt are doing.
and is Fox reporting it????
My experience is partisan is afraid of honest change and the truth.
I say BRING IT ON!
Ron Paul a man of honesty.
Scares the war machine and the banker.
OV
Just want what seems to be missing, Truth and Justice for ALL
What is fraud except creating “value” from nothing and passing it off as something?
...and here's my plan(contribution)...
... let's HELP get me the signatures necessary to be on the Republican ballot for the 2014 primary against Dick Durbin here in Illinois...
Essentially, we have a year-and-a-half to get this done!
The bottom line; NOBODY that needs to hear our message WILL hear our message IF we are blogging anonymously on the internet - where - Ron Paul has already won the Presidency.
If I am on the ballot, as a Republican challenger, in the Republican primary of 2014; then, I(we) have a pulpit to preach LIBERTY from - that - might be picked up by newspapers - that - might draw an INVITE to speak on our Liberty message around Illinois.
All this hub-bub all of a sudden about Abraham Lincoln in recent months; from Bill O'Reilly's book to the recently released vampire movie - OK - if Abraham Lincoln's name is NOW on the forefront of people's brain, at a time when MOST Americans are travailing in angst over the willful destruction of this nation's moral underpinnings; then, someone FROM Abraham Lincoln's home state ought to bring a message that asks: "Why/how did the great home state of Abraham Lincoln become the MOST CORRUPT State in the entire UNION?"
And there it is, folks - I am offering ... now let's BAND TOGETHER. move on from the discussions about Rand, Jesse, Jack, and Adam - and start this thing as a GOAL to keep the fire lit ...
The campaign theme:
John Eleniewski for U.S. Senate 2014 - Not a Politician, PERIOD!
http://virtueandexcellence.com
Need to Study Lincoln's Record
I've met some good, well intentioned people who are Tea Party folks. Unfortunately, too many of them are rather naive conservatives. (I used to be of this type).
To begin with, I suggest studying the actual record regarding the actions of Lincoln. Not the propaganda they fed you in school. Read the books by Tom DiLorezo as a start and then verify the facts and research this for yourself. - - Lincoln shut down newspapers and imprisoned people for disagreeing with him. He tried to arrest and imprison a Supreme Court justice who disagreed with him, etc, etc.
Why even bring Lincoln up today? Because it illustrates that people are willing to accept what theyve been told without questioning it. They swallow it - - 'hook, line, and sinker'.
Research the positions and origins of the neo-cons. Research what the elected TeaParty freshmen did after they got in office to restore the Constitution and the nation. (Zero, squat, nada. They were brought in line and co-opted by GOP leadership.)
Research the mode of operation of such NGOs (non-government organizations) as the National Endowment for Democracy. They have sponsored 'color revolutions' around the world.
Everday street level OWS and Tea Party people are easily manipulated. Most won't research any of this. Useful idiots . . until they choose to no longer be so.
Excellent recommendations...
...truthfully, I would use the colloquialism "Honest Abe", as most all Americans have been spoonfed - and, I would simply say, "Where is this character trait in our public officials anymore".
It seems to me that ALL our elevated/lauded founders/framers/statesmen have at one time or another exercised power outside what we would expect, as they have been stereotyped as "perfect" role models for public service in our eyes.
What I would then capitalize on is the gross neglect of the electorate NOT to throw openly DIS-honest public officials out of office; which is really what ALL the angst is about - in the hearts of Occupy people, the Tea Party, and us; and it is sad that Ron Paul is so HONEST, and "idealistic", that he is "unelectable"...really? This makes no sense, and I am confident people are starting to ask "why don't we elect a Ron Paul?"
We never quit, this is the message...the people need to elect people to office who will actually respect the boundaries of the Rule of Law when serving in office...and...they TRUST their constituents are wiser, and have more accumulated knowledge when it comes to problem solving than the gubbermint does!
This is a drum worth beating; I could study history ad nauseum, and always find something to disappoint, I desire not to emulate any former statesman ... I just think we need to give the power back to the people, and we need to start sending congressional representatives into D.C. that would act as a buffer between the Federal government and the State government for the time necessary so that the states can recover from decades of control, bribery, manipulation, and overbearing interference.
We have been conditioned to vote ourselves largesse from the public treasury for so long now that it is all people know how to do; rich, poor, Republican, Democrat...and Ron Paul has been our warning that this is all coming to an end...what next?
http://virtueandexcellence.com
I'll help!
I live in Alpha, IL. So far, I've only contributed financially to the Liberty movement and have been wanting to do more. The rest of this year is going to be pretty complicated and busy because I work A LOT and am renovating an investment home and taking care of my wife and son when I'm not at work. Let me know how I can help get things rolling, though. bryn_0688@hotmail.com/(309) 335-1511.
Sage
The difference
The reason that the tea party was so easily co-opted by the GOP is that they knew what they were against (higher taxes) but it still remains to be seen what they are for. Are they for the Constitution, or just less growth in government?
If a movement is to remain strong, it must know what it is both FOR and AGAINST.
I'm not sure that's the issue
I think it's a matter of priorities. It's clear what the tea party stands for: Constitutionally-limited government, fiscal responsibility, and a free market economy. It's stated on national websites and in the mission statements of many local groups. (The tax issue comes in re fiscal responsibility: don't tax us more or borrow more; spend less, just like we need to in order to live within our means.) However, in my experience with a local group, while everyone claimed to believe in those three ideals, for many there were simply more important priorities. Social conservatives, they'd be happy to deal with big government so long as it legislated morality as they define it, and their #1 priority seemed to be to get abortion outlawed. (Not in mine, but in their minds that IS a Constitutional issue.) They also seemed to support current wars and military engagements on grounds of our national security and/or Israel's. And so, still claiming to support the three tea party tenets, many nonetheless supported Santorum. They don't like Romney, but they'll likely vote for him anyway - the "lesser of two evils."
Your Tea Party Comments on Target
We must know the same Tea Party folks ! Or at least the ones I've known have thought (and not thought at times) in the same manner you describe.
They were very good at parroting what they had heard from others - - Limbaugh was a big source of their opinions. They were all 'for smaller government', but didnt like it if you point out that government has grown under both parties and it grew under Ronald Reagan. (They won't check this out, however. They just believe Limbaugh and other 'conservative' mouth pieces on faith.) They are 'for smaller government', but all for the various wars overseas and spending even more on the military, 'for national security'. They don't seem to understand that these positions violate the principle of a smaller, more controllable government. Constant war requires central banking and a large central government to be maintained. A nation indebted into bankruptcy isn't very secure. - - - In some ways, I find Tea Party people to be more irritating than Obamnoid liberals. At least the Obamnoids don't invoke the US Constitution when constantly violating it. The hard core libs don't give a rip about the Constitution. The Tea Partiers are constantly giving it lip service. Then they support violating it for one of their pet causes.
Yes, Tea Partiers will 'vote for the lesser of two evils' without researching or giving any supporting evidence for this being the case.
Thanks for the comment re the Tea Party
Obviously, on a national basis, the tea party was not entirely behind Ron Paul - although he stands for everything the tea party claims to, having inspired it! And yet I've wondered to what extent our local group here in the New York suburbs reflected local groups elsewhere. (I've wondered if demographics played a part - this group seems to have primarily Catholic members; I've assumed that to no small extent their priorities - as also some Fox journalists I'm sure they listen to - reflect the priorities of their church.) As to the constant wars, you're right on about people not seeing that it requires a large central government. But I had quite an argument in our last book group meeting with a man who basically accused that I wasn't patriotic for questioning all the wars we've been engaged in. I too find it especially frustrating to speak with my tea party friends - who pay lip service to the Constitution they claim to hold so dear.
Yep, Fox News / Americans for Prosperity ganked the tea party
straight from Paul's hands.. the earliest Tea Party incidents in 2007 were very much anti-war as well. Now the tea party insofar it is covered by the media has been reduced to Faux News commenting over footage of old farts holding signs that were prepared by the PR firms of health insurance companies, energy conglomerates and banks, and handed out by groups like Americans for Prosperity.
I'd say Occupy was more of a success in that it spread to other countries, not to mention its concerns were much more policy-oriented than the vaguer anti-tax sentiments of more recent tea party protests. Counter to how the media presented it (as a bunch of whiny, dirty hippies that want handouts), a great number of Occupy participants are in fact Paul supporters.
So true - liberty-minded people being influenced is as likely
as herding a group of cats. Great article & thanks for posting.
Thanks for the laugh
Sorry it's a commercial, but I can't resist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8