Imagine living in a fantasy world thinking that oligarchs will see a crowd of protestors and go “Oh jeez, maybe they have a point, it’s time to start listening!” Americans think “change” happens from cinematic marches and idols making great speeches, or giving a can of Pepsi to a cop. I’m not against crowds of protestors gathering peacefully, but why not outside the oligarchs mansions? Organizers provide coach and bus trips for protestors all over the country, they have all the means and resources to organize these crowds and yet they choose the most ineffective locations like a town hall where people in suits can safely laugh at them on TV from home.
be the change you want to see in the world. just get some friends and go for it. we believe in you!
seriously, ever consider there might be multiple steps in the process of overthrowing oligarchy?
maybe participating in a siwy widdul pwotest is the first step towards getting people enough courage to do precisely what you’re suggesting?
or that your cynicism against the first step might be exactly what prevents us from getting to the next step, the one where people surround the mansions?
Mass protests are a sign that the dictator doesn’t have control over the people and often moves the pillars of power away from them. Having a large enough protest of at least 3.5% of a population is a key tipping point.
Regimes gain power when ordinary citizens consent to their rule. Nonviolent demonstrations withdraw that consent. No regime can survive when too many people refuse to obey the regime’s orders.
3.5% of the population peacefully protesting is so visible that no one can ignore them and at that scale, most soldiers have no desire to suppress the protesters because they include family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors - so it prevents the armed forces from allying with the dictator.
Imagine living in a fantasy world thinking that oligarchs will see a crowd of protestors and go “Oh jeez, maybe they have a point, it’s time to start listening!” Americans think “change” happens from cinematic marches and idols making great speeches, or giving a can of Pepsi to a cop. I’m not against crowds of protestors gathering peacefully, but why not outside the oligarchs mansions? Organizers provide coach and bus trips for protestors all over the country, they have all the means and resources to organize these crowds and yet they choose the most ineffective locations like a town hall where people in suits can safely laugh at them on TV from home.
Oligarchs will just go to another one of their mansions. But local politicians track those crowd sizes bc their jobs depend on it.
be the change you want to see in the world. just get some friends and go for it. we believe in you!
seriously, ever consider there might be multiple steps in the process of overthrowing oligarchy?
maybe participating in a siwy widdul pwotest is the first step towards getting people enough courage to do precisely what you’re suggesting?
or that your cynicism against the first step might be exactly what prevents us from getting to the next step, the one where people surround the mansions?
at OWS they laughed at us and drank champagne from their balconies as the cops destroyed water stations and tore down tents
Mass protests are a sign that the dictator doesn’t have control over the people and often moves the pillars of power away from them. Having a large enough protest of at least 3.5% of a population is a key tipping point.
Regimes gain power when ordinary citizens consent to their rule. Nonviolent demonstrations withdraw that consent. No regime can survive when too many people refuse to obey the regime’s orders.
3.5% of the population peacefully protesting is so visible that no one can ignore them and at that scale, most soldiers have no desire to suppress the protesters because they include family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors - so it prevents the armed forces from allying with the dictator.
I’ll take “What happened 15 April 1989 for 2000 Alex…”