mellowtigger | this is what democracy looks like

The Occupation movement reminds me of what America has not had in a very long time: free and public discussions.

I visit my local occupation and hear Hare Krishna singers at one corner of the plaza and Sacred Harp singers at another corner.
I visit my local occupation and see the Republican party (promoters for candidate Ron Paul) alongside the Ecology Democracy party (promoters for candidate Ken Pentel). I see representatives of the Independence party (Jesse Ventura) and the Socialist party.
I visit my local occupation and hear people call for majority vote to silence a dissenter during the general assembly, and I speak to remind everyone that "The voice of the majority is no proof of justice."
I visit my local occupation and find people directly addressing problems within their own organization while coming to consensus (eventually) on how to proceed even though a wide variety of opinions are expressed.
I visit my local occupation and participate in discussions about how to bridge that ancient divide between "the worthy and the unworthy poor", as local homeless people daily partake (and sometimes steal) our shared resources but only some of them assist us in our efforts.
I visit my local occupation and see controversy develop over centralized control of the occupymn.org website, and I see an alternative occupympls.org website appear.

The Occupation is providing a peaceful and democratic discussion. It is contentious, and it is slow, and it is inspiring to watch it unfold.

As people sometimes chant during marches and rallies here in Minneapolis, "This is what democracy looks like."