dick - I understand what you mean when you say, "No one will be nice to you just because you're camping out and beating a drum."

That's true.

However, it kind of depends on how many people decide to camp out and beat the drum (figuratively speaking). One has to mobilize such a large number of determined people in the streets that the confidence of a ruling system is shaken and it completely loses its nerve...and then changes...or falls. People all over Eastern Europe managed to do that in 1989. They brought down the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Only in Rumania did it turn to violence.

People in India managed to do it with Gandhi's inspired leadership, and they ended British Imperial rule.

People in South Africa managed to end Apartheid.

Young people all over the USA managed to end segregation and the Vietnam War with mostly peaceful protest and civil disobedience.

People in Egypt shook the confidence of the Mubarak government and brought Mr Mubarak down with...although it's turned out to be only a cosmetic change...so now they are again mobilizing and protesting.

It CAN be done! You just need to get enough people involved, that's all, and you have to shame a corrupt ruling system to the point where its confidence in itself crumbles.

OWS does not have enough people mobilized yet to shake down the present ruling system. Not nearly enough. But it IS a beginning. You have to begin somewhere. If you don't begin at all, you'll never change anything.

Because we cannot win today does not mean it's not worth fighting for a victory somewhere farther down the line.

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You seem to feel that the most effective way of exercising change is at the ballot box. Well, I wish that were so...but how can it be so when behind-the-scenes lobbying by a wealthy elite is choreographing and controlling all the major political parties? In such circumstances, the effect of one's vote is nullified, because the legislators have been bought out.

That's why I feel that nonpartisan political protest is a more effective tool to accomplish change at this time than traditional voting....but by all means, vote anyway, and pick the best choice you can. It can't hurt.