...we should strive to convince the movement that the problem in the US today is not just Wall Street or the corporations or the fact that the economic system is somehow being "gamed" or "rigged" by tricky selfish individuals. We need to explain that the cause of the crisis is the capitalist system itself, a system in which production is carried on only when it results in profits, the vast majority of which go to the tiny elite that runs the country. Correspondingly, we should work to persuade the movement that its ultimate aim should be the radical democratization of our entire society, in other words, a revolution in which the vast majority of people seize control of the economy and the country as a whole from the rich and disperse power and direct control of all aspects of social life as widely as possible. As a result, we should propose and support radical demands that both point in this direction and unite the broadest sectors of the population.I couldn't agree more except to argue that political education along these lines should be THE focus (not direct action) of activist activity--effective direct action will naturally flow from a politically educated movement.
The American people have been fed so many lies for so long that they see the world through very cloudy lenses. Many people are beginning to question these lies and are beginning to see that the realities of their daily lives clash with the myths of the media propaganda machines. They are ready to look at alternative explanations to better understand the destruction of their lives.
Likewise, as we build the movement, the subtle, and not so subtle attacks from mainstream media need to be dealt with so that this media becomes completely discredited. Simultaneously, activists need to establish alternative media to wean people away from mainstream media so that a vital revolutionary consciousness can be created.