This mini-doc shows in some detail how the general assembly - the heart of the occupy movement - operates. They make decisions by consensus and anyone can join the assembly. Through this process, the occupy movement models its own radically inclusive political economy and thus demonstrates that it's more than a protest movement.Indeed! I think that what these brave young men and women are attempting to create is nothing less than a complete social and cultural revolution.
They are beginning the hard work of creating the mechanics of inclusive democracy, developing the process that can create inclusive participation in order to create a sense of empowerment of all people--something which is terribly missing from the present political system, a system that only includes the ruling class consisting of private "owners" of socially produced wealth, a system that excludes everyone else.
The mechanics consist of all sorts of creative devices such as hand signals, placing people on a "stack" to speak to the assembly, repeating what is said so that everyone can hear, setting up working groups, etc. They are creating a whole new mindset--from "me" to "we". Listen to what they are saying:
We're all in this together. The only way you keep people involved in a movement like this is you have a process where everyone's voice can be heard.
In our movement it is really important to have our means reflect the ends we want to create.
People come to a consensus meeting in the attitude that I want to make a decision that everyone is comfortable with.
Because I know what it is like to have my viewpoints honored when they are unpopular, I rejoice in the opportunity to honor someone else's very different viewpoints. but because I was part of the process, because I see how it was made, I saw how good the intentions were, I honor the decision even if I don't agree with it.
It's an entirely different way of thinking that is inclusive, and it is working. It's messy and time consuming, but it is the only way to change the system...I think.
