Questions from outside the movement remain. What are their demands? Aren't they just angry unemployed hippies? How will they know when they have accomplished what they set out to do?
The purpose and direction of these demonstrations has been clear to me from the beginning. This movement is a reaction, yes. But instead of asking when it will end, let us ask what this movement is beginning.
No matter how clear the goals are, the most concrete change that the Occupy movement introduces is its process. Instead of having leaders decide on policy goals or "demands" behind closed doors before the demonstration begins, decisions are made as part of the demonstration. Anyone can participate. The Occupy movement embodies direct democracy.
I hesitated to "vote" at the first General Assembly I attended. Don't they know I just walked in off the street? Do I have to join first? What I realized is that everyone else just walked in off the street too, and all our voices count equally. Wow.
Presbyterians do not run meetings on a consensus model for a variety of reasons. For example, if someone doesn't like an idea, they may be reluctant to share their view if they know that one nay vote will block the entire proposition. On the flip side, the consensus model can also allow a discussion to be hijacked by a small minority who hold a meeting hostage in order to get their way.
While consensus isn't always my favorite, there's no denying that the Occupy movement has made it look good. They are committed to conducting themselves in a way that reflects their goals no matter how complicated it makes the movement. They are committed to being leaderless and insist that no one person can speak for the movement. Some would call that practicing what you preach.
The occupy movement continues to encourage me about the future of our country. Our democracy has slowly drifted away from direct participation and toward raising money. Now these small groups of people committed to listening and deciding together show us how it's done.