OWS does need to move on to something more than occupation. If they're waiting for more people to show up, it's going to be a slow grind until things get worse. And I think the law and enforcement will provoke things to try to burn them out before that happens. Wall Street will wait them out, the cities will tighten their grip.
Too many people who should support them are getting caught up on the imagery. We're all trained to focus on how things look. A friend of mine who mainly gets his news from CNN and other tv outlets, he sees the protesters as "trust fund kids who don't have to be at work, probably playing hookey from school so they can feel like they're 'fighting the power'", and while he supports the overall points of the movement, he feels like he can't relate to the people out there. He's at work, looking at the news reports, and all he can think is "damn kids". That is an image problem that exists, and has to be dealt with.
I don't agree with the superficial demands of people who say that the signage and demonstration props all have to be uniform or look 'professional'. But there is a divide that needs to be bridged. I think a focus on the volunteer activism, the homespun nature of the movement could become a positive if shown in the right light. And I do think they need to get together and discuss their image issues. They point is to reach people, and obstacles have been erected. This is Wall Street's money they're fucking with.
I think they could get away from the irony and the meme play. It's nice when we think we're being cute, but it's only so many "i can haz economic reform" kitty signs we can take. You're being ironic. We know. It hasn't helped us score in years either. Try actual wit.
I think some amateur style family videos of people getting motivated, making their signs, getting politically active, showing unity, would go a long way. I have some Grateful Dead mp3s that could provide the backdrop.
