tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7289734381274017595..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: A brief occupation: Direct action as an effective tactical maneuverGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46606790790537757562013-07-08T06:22:31.951-05:002013-07-08T06:22:31.951-05:00Chris H, the email bill reacted to the Congression...Chris H, the email bill reacted to the Congressional hearings, sort of (much more, actually, to offensive Obama Administration briefs in federal court cases), but it reacted by positively improving the law, not just complaining about it with a sign in one's hand.<br /><br />You say the Peaceful Streets Project is an example of successful direct action, but I'd respectfully ask, "Successful by what metric?" I don't judge success by the number of press clippings or YouTube hits. I'm looking for tangible, real-world wins that one can point to and see the results.<br /><br />Protests have their place, "direct action" too, though much, much less frequently. But IMO folks who have disengaged from the actual political process to SOLELY focus on those tactics are too often wasting their time and everybody else's.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-41165950416533261382013-07-05T23:03:33.309-05:002013-07-05T23:03:33.309-05:00Very little reform of any kind is "proactive&...Very little reform of any kind is "proactive". The email bill was reactive to the testimony to Congress that millions of emails were being subpoenaed, etc. <br /><br />Where are you seeing proactive anything taking place?<br /><br />Some examples of places where we have seen some direct ation impact the public affairs, while not necessarily legislative is in jury nullification (FIJA), video taping police interactions with the public (Peaceful Streets Project), and Neighborhood Watch to name a few.Chris Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837397319040457859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39779014593515053572013-07-05T14:28:29.497-05:002013-07-05T14:28:29.497-05:00"To get to the point where a few minutes of b..."To get to the point where a few minutes of bedlam could effectively scuttle a bill required the sophisticated application of more traditional legislative tactics beginning long before those final, critical moments - most prominently by Wendy Davis but also by countless others working the process step-by-step."<br /><br />Like the "grassroots" folks answering the ad on Craigslist? <br />http://hotair.com/archives/2013/07/01/great-news-being-a-pro-choice-grassroots-protester-pays-a-decent-wage/<br /><br />and shown on other sites. LifeNews, CNS some blog sites. The ad is real. Posted three days after Perry called the session, two days before the astroturf demonstration. <br /><br />If they'd won in a legitimate election, or had the majority support of the people without having to HIRE the grassroots folks, then it could be considered a win. Only extreme "spin" could call it such. If fans could pay folks to run out onto playing fields, their teams would "win" more games too.<br /><br />But it does show the character of all involved. And those reporting it.pjstxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36383231430373084742013-07-05T06:58:38.178-05:002013-07-05T06:58:38.178-05:00So Chris, you grant that "direct action"...So Chris, you grant that "direct action" is reactive and incapable of achieving pro-active reforms. So why should we endorse it? You say "People commit direct action because of abuse," but spite and revenge are not a viable political platform in and of themselves.<br /><br />I mentioned lefties because for the most part that's who touts "direct action" as an ostensibly effective tactic. On the right, for example, the pro-life folks use those tactics but also use a WIDE array of more mainstream ones. It's on the left that the misguided notion has been embraced that direct action can achieve political ends by itself and has value of its own accord. Except in very narrow circumstances, it almost always does not.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36441496355446293252013-07-05T02:25:10.108-05:002013-07-05T02:25:10.108-05:00Something that I haven't seen covered anywhere...Something that I haven't seen covered anywhere is whether or not there's an investigation into who tampered with the timestamps on the bill. The original timestamp clearly showed the vote was after midnight, and therefore invalid, yet another version showed up a few minutes later, altered to show the vote taken in time. I believe that tampering with official records is a potential felony, yet nobody seems to be investigating it.gravyrugnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-31793047921380623142013-07-04T04:01:44.852-05:002013-07-04T04:01:44.852-05:00Grits,
I'm not sure why it needs to have been...Grits,<br /><br />I'm not sure why it needs to have been by "leftists". You've always been one to try and ignore those types of labels.<br /><br />Proactive reforms? I can't think of any attempts of direct action that would have been proactive in nature. People commit to direct action because of abuse, not the possibility of some abuse presenting itself in the future.Chris Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837397319040457859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48420827616189012312013-07-03T20:17:35.728-05:002013-07-03T20:17:35.728-05:00Virginia, thanks for the kind words. But I must sa...Virginia, thanks for the kind words. But I must say, I wouldn't consider simply getting a meeting with somebody some huge accomplishment. If that's all that "direct action" is good for, it's not good for much.<br /><br />Susan, I agree that's an important distinction. The direct action here, as I said in the post, was "crowd-sourced." That's very different from, say, celebrities lining up to get ritually arrested in anti-nuke protests, etc.. What happened at the Texas capitol was organic, not a tactic employed by the movement leadership. That's one of the reasons Dewhurst's OWS analogy is inapt.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10130716681775008432013-07-03T20:11:15.013-05:002013-07-03T20:11:15.013-05:00"Legislative change that isn't tied to cr..."Legislative change that isn't tied to cronyism generally is the result of the direct action events boiling over into public policy."<br /><br />Chris, can you please provide any Texas-specific examples where "direct action" by leftists resulted in proactive legislative reforms? Offhand I can't think of a single one.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-28428523948721094802013-07-03T18:05:00.781-05:002013-07-03T18:05:00.781-05:00The following quote is from a post today at http:/...The following quote is from a post today at http://www.moonofalabama.org/, regarding the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria:<br /> <br />"The Muslim Brotherhood view: Because they won the majority (of the minority that voted) they are allowed to rule and implement the state and society as they see fit. "<br /> <br />Isn't that pretty much the same as the attitude of the Texas GOP on almost everything subject to legislation and the Governor's office, but particularly with regard to abortion law?<br /> dorannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-92146142526979163562013-07-03T18:01:31.525-05:002013-07-03T18:01:31.525-05:00Occupy this: A one million dollar settlement for ...Occupy this: A one million dollar settlement for Occupy-ers in California who were subject to police beatings. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/03/occupy-oakland-protesters-1m-policedorannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-33696450004568648352013-07-03T14:58:50.234-05:002013-07-03T14:58:50.234-05:00By defining "direct action" the way that...By defining "direct action" the way that you are, you're limiting the examples in which they're used effectively. Direct action is more than civil disobedience.<br /><br />However, civil disobedience has two primary goals.<br />1) Create empathy for a cause by demonstrating that the issue is of such importance to you that you're willing to undergo the pains of the consequences to bring attention to it.<br />2) Create opportunity to fight the issue in the courts instead of a legislative body.<br /><br />The planned parenthood protests in the 90s in Texas were going primarily after the second. They ended up losing the court case because of a lazy pseudo incorporation doctrine our state appellate courts have taken when our state constitution has sections that are of the same subject matter as the US constitution (They screwed up blood warrants with that doctrine too). Article 1 Section 8 of the Texas constitution is clearly more protective of speech than is the first amendment to the US constitution.<br /><br />My civil disobedience arrest outside a polling place in 2010 led to the city council in Watauga repealing their ordinance and, in part, the passing of HB 259 this session.<br /><br />There are tons of examples of even your limited civil disobedience definition.<br /><br />Beyond that, a broader definition of "direct action" has an additional goal of building community that can then be used as a critical mass in a coalition for a more tempered change.<br /><br />It's narcissistic to believe that legislative and societal change is occurring in a vacuum of elitist thought within the halls of that pink dome.<br /><br />Legislative change that isn't tied to cronyism generally is the result of the direct action events boiling over into public policy. <br /><br />There's an Ann Landers quote: "Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them."<br /><br />Direct action is usually the hard work that creates the opportunity for positive legislative change.Chris Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837397319040457859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80185185237824094342013-07-03T13:10:46.740-05:002013-07-03T13:10:46.740-05:00Not a single democrat elected official for a state...Not a single democrat elected official for a state wide position--has ZERO to do with gerrymandering.<br /><br />More than 50% of Texans support proposed abortion restrictions--hard to say "anti-democratic" if you support majority position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44170116565795546292013-07-03T12:59:24.026-05:002013-07-03T12:59:24.026-05:00Thanks for the analysis, Grits. An important poin...Thanks for the analysis, Grits. An important point to add: the outbursts were immediately proceeded by and prompted by the actions of the chair -- first Dewhurst then Duncan -- in refusing to follow the Senate Rules and parliamentary procedure. I was heartened that night to see the crowd -- both live and virtual -- not only follow the arcane procedures but immediately understand how wrong it was for the chair to flaunt the rules. The anarchy began on the dais. When Sen. Van de Putte called them out on the more obnoxious and sexist acts -- repeatedly refusing to recognize her recently returned from her father's funeral no less -- that spark lit the fire in the dry timber.<br />I could have not scripted it better, nor could have Aaron Sorkin. Turns out we didn't need to. The Republicans did it for us.<br />In sum, the tactics were appropriate that night for the additional reason that they were justified and prompted by the lawless, bullying tactics of the leadership. Watching those with all the power and the votes cheat on top of it all was too much for anyone who cares about democracy and the Rule of Law to bear.Susan Haysnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90434287022658433122013-07-03T12:51:37.776-05:002013-07-03T12:51:37.776-05:00Nothing shows you care better than chanting "...Nothing shows you care better than chanting "Hail Satan!" or maybe a Hallmark Card.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10009055752275216702013-07-03T11:27:16.609-05:002013-07-03T11:27:16.609-05:00I have mixed feelings about this. As a veteran of ...I have mixed feelings about this. As a veteran of many marches, etc, I agree that they have largely lost their punch. So it's smarter to use that money and energy in other ways.<br /><br />I do disagree with your dismissal of such protests as narcissistic. We as a people have far, far less input into policies and laws than we used to. "Free speech zones"- just a way to allow pols to avoid facing opposition and giving them inconvenient media coverage. "Free speech" relegated to distant zones is not free speech.<br /><br />As to corruption in the system, the people have it right. Parties in power- both sides- have gerrymandered electoral districts to such an extent that most of the people have no real say in elections, especially for the presidency. I have not had true representation in Congress or the Lege in decades, thanks to GOP manipulation of districts in Austin (And Democratic lack of spine). One man, one vote is gone. Presidents are elected from a handful of "battleground states". So I fully understand the deep cynicism of most voters, not just youth. Why bother?<br /><br />But big, noisy displays of opinion, opposition, and/or support do serve one important purpose. They often energize the participants. I went to the 1989 March on Washington planning to hide in the crowd. Being part of 750,000 other people led to me holding the large Austin banner, proud and open. I returned home far more "active" than before. In a free society, that is a good thing. It keeps pols and big money from just ignoring us completely. This country has slid far, far into control by oligarchs and the professional political class, and far, far from being truly free. When offices are essentially for sale as they are now, we get a little jaded.Phillip Bakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-2792512327328572022013-07-03T11:15:29.012-05:002013-07-03T11:15:29.012-05:00Another effective use of direct action took place ...Another effective use of direct action took place last April, when the eighteen members of the UT Sweatshop-Free Coalition occupied the President's office in the UT Tower as part of a much longer campaign to get the university to join the Workers Rights Consortium, http://www.workersrights.org/, an independent labor rights organization. With the April 18, 2012 action, the students accomplished the specific goal of getting UT President Bill Powers to meet with them. When he granted the meeting, the student brought information and personal testimonies and invited him to look into the Worker Rights Consortium himself. To Powers' credit, he listened and conducted his own research, with the result that UT Austin did join the Worker Rights Consortium. <br /><br />This example provides supports your main point: direct action can be effective when strategically used to accomplish a specific goal. <br />Virginia Raymondhttp://www.virginiaraymond.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-28225635295465014162013-07-03T11:04:34.914-05:002013-07-03T11:04:34.914-05:00Thank you for your excellent commentary. We need ...Thank you for your excellent commentary. We need to engage in much more of this thoughtful analysis of what strategies to use when, and where. <br /><br />I would only add that disability rights organizations, especially ADAPT, have effectively and strategically used direct action (blocking streets, blocking buses crawling up the U.S. Capitol steps, filling the U.S. Capitol) as means to specifically defined goals, often forcing meetings with people had previously refused to acknowledge their existence.Virginia Raymondhttp://www.virginiaraymond.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-18213261088551794702013-07-03T10:44:15.965-05:002013-07-03T10:44:15.965-05:00Anonymous--I for one am happy to see a "Mob&q...Anonymous--I for one am happy to see a "Mob"!!! It shows that people CARE about what is being shoved down our throats by a bunch of rich republican men! It is time Americans get off facebook/twitter/internet before we lose all of our damn rights!!!Denny Cranenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-85731101928927844102013-07-03T10:31:23.781-05:002013-07-03T10:31:23.781-05:00It doesnt' matter what the issue is or what si...It doesnt' matter what the issue is or what side of it you are on, what happened in the Senate is disgusting. It reminded me of those videos from the legislature in Korea where they have fist fights. We don't have a "mob-ocracy" in this country. And it's not a democracy either, it's a republic. We elect people to make these decisions. If you don't like the decision, then work to elect somebody else. I don't like mob rule, no matter whose mob it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-23043358663663650512013-07-03T09:56:41.193-05:002013-07-03T09:56:41.193-05:00read the REST of the bill, that's what is obje...read the REST of the bill, that's what is objectional. The stats you quote are correct on the term restrictions, but when the bill gets hijacked to meet the ultra right goal of NO planned parenthood, then I question the support. Break the bill down and yes, most would support it if and only if the additional protection covering rape and incest were included. Bad legislation should not be passed when a good bill gets loaded up.Texas Mavericknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21801267682384051262013-07-03T08:50:08.592-05:002013-07-03T08:50:08.592-05:00Under what circumstances is direct action an effec...<i>Under what circumstances is direct action an effective political tactic in 21st century American politics and under what circumstances is it a distraction or even a colossal waste of time and political capital? </i><br /><br />I think it is a Pyrrhic victory that costs them more than it wins them. If you recall, the Wisconsin Budget "Protests" has a similar "victory." What did it accomplish?<br /><br />Well, it accomplished having the Republican Supreme Court candidate re-elected, $40MM wasted in unsuccessful recall campaigns, and a failure to take control of the lege in the next election.<br /><br />They need to face some hard realities. The bill is supported by 60% of the state. Americans support the term restrictions by over 80%. This is by <b>no</b> means a popular position.<br /><br />That means that they need to be taken seriously, and frankly, shouting down the lege is not a serious move. It's an adolescent, short sighted move, just like "taking over" the Capitol in Wisconsin. <br /><br />It's just group therapy, and it's the sort of group therapy that politically they can't afford.Phelpshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06270536870200063563noreply@blogger.com