So far, these ‘movements’ have played out on the streets, not in the boardrooms or the government houses. Meanwhile, on YouTube, there’s evidence of how these boardrooms and governments handle their own battles: the world can watch as a bloodied Gaddafi get dragged through the streets and police from all over the world grapple with ‘inchoate’ protesters. The difference in decisive approach is marked, despite what Naomi Klein would have us believe about the clarity and refinement of the Occupy Wall Street protester-motives.
But the Occupy movements are splintered. They have no discernible leadership and zero discernible fundraising capacity. Add to that the fact that leadership is not en vogue. A powerful commercial record is less an advantage in politics than a dirty accomplishment, it seems. Even Mayor Bloomberg is struggling with residents who await the curtain call on his third term. What then, can replace the unity that accompanies strong leadership?