How the Occupy Movement can create a New Political and Economic System

The Occupy Movement has introduced people all over the world to direct democracy, a participatory form of democracy in which all people have a say in the decisions which affect them. This type of democracy is much different than the “representative” democracy most of us are used to, in which professional politicians run on a platform (agenda), and vie for campaign contributions that indebt them to their financiers. Direct democracy, whether utilizing consensus-based or majority-based decision making models, puts power in the hands of the people and takes it out of the hands of the wealthy and powerful. In a direct democracy candidates do not run for office, local general assemblies or other decision-making bodies make the decisions. In matters that concern more than just the local community, decisions made through local assemblies are communicated to the next level of assembly (city, state, regional, global, etc.) through appointed or elected delegates who are instantly recallable (impeachable, should they fail in their duty).

Though sometimes tedious, direct democracy ensures that society is shaped in the interest of the people, rather than the corporations or the ultra-rich. Considering that democracy literally means “rule by the people”, our current system of democracy must be regarded as what it is – a very limited form of democracy in which the wealthy hold the most power, i.e. sham democracy – and done away with. Direct democracy is the only antidote to the world plutocracy (rule by the rich). Occupy activists have successfully used horizontal (non-hierarchical) direct democracy to organize their movement and they are in the position to revolutionize society by further implementing direct democratic control.

In order to create this radical change it is imperative that Occupy activists work outside of the existing corrupt system that cannot be simply reformed. Instead of working within the established system we have to create a new, competing alternative to it that will challenge its power and legitimacy. For the Occupy Movement to take this next step it must evolve beyond a mere protest movement and become a viable alternative to the existing order. That means putting direct democracy into practice in our communities and workplaces. For genuine democracy in the political sphere alone will not create a truly just society, democracy must extend into the economic sphere as well. Workers should organize into unions and fight for fair wages, benefits, and ultimately, for control of their workplaces. Only when the people themselves, and not a ruling class, control the workplaces will we see an end to irresponsible production and worker exploitation. In much the same way, people should form citizen’s councils and solidarity networks and use these decision-making bodies (which could be considered unions for citizens) to challenge and eventually replace the existing corrupt and oppressive governmental system.