News Dec 15, 2011 at 4:00 am

Lessons from Occupy's Port of Portland Shutdown

Comments

1
Probably the most fitting picture they could have picked. Some Che Guevara wannabe plays with a hula hoop in another misguided Occupy effort. It's too easy to make fun of and dismiss.
2
@AiWenSen, I think you missed the point of the article. Theriault is clearly stating that there is nothing dismissable about the actions of any of the players involved here.
3
Occupy has my complete support
4
I agree with the general thesis that the message was muddled, although I disagree that there was no message at all. The tactic is an old one, an attempt to show Those-Who-Own-For-a-Living that they are entirely reliant on Those-Who-Work-For-a-Living, not vice-versa as politicians often like to declare in order to justify their constant kow-towing to the so-called "job creators."

That said, not a lot of the general public bought or understood that analysis, and with mixed-messages coming from the unions its not hard to see why the port shutdown was an imperfect action. Occupy ought to focus heavily on popularizing the arguments of the working-class, and shelve the direct actions for now. If no one understands why you're blockading and striking, no one will side with you.
5
we didnt exactly fail at Schnitzer Steel btw. Union business reps came out and asked us to stop since the workers for Schnitzer where at risk of losing their jobs. after about 30 minutes of discussion, we chose to leave.

still- a very fair and accurate article. keep up the good work.
6
@2. Well, let's see. This article (as well as others) points out that Occupy had no clear statement to make, failed to sell that fractured statement/message, and hurt some of the people they intended to support. This all stems from what I believe to be the movement's core problem, that they have no tangible goals/metrics for the changes they wish to see, as well as no real action plan for creating meaningful changes. For this reason, most of the public dismisses them as a bunch of rabble rousers that don't really know what they're on about.

Maybe one day it will come together as an organized, national force, with a coherent message and a meaningful plan of action. But for now, it continues to be noise. Slowly morphing into a catch-all for every lefty bumper sticker cause out there.
7
If one is to view Occupy as a Political Force To Be Reckoned With, then those involved with Occupy should take a hard, cold look inside at their tactics and realize that the Occupy of the Ports was a political loser for them and their cause.

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