Keyterm: Succinctness
In
Less than 60 Seconds Alan Grayson Explains Occupy Wall Street to the 1% 10/13/11 http://redactednews.blogspot.com/2011/10/in-less-than-60-seconds-alan-grayson.html
The
latest edition of Real Time (on HBO) featured one of Bill MaherŐs patented fake
left/right political party "balance things out" with three
Republicans and a Democrat panels, but the Democrat was Alan Grayson. While
fellow panelist P.J. OŐRourke broke out his bathing and hippie jokes, former
Rep. Grayson schooled him on Occupy Wall Street.
OŐRourke claimed that the Occupy Wall
Street people flunked econ, and Grayson said, ŇNo, listen Bill, I have no
trouble understanding what they are talking about.Ó OŐRourke asked Grayson,
ŇYou passed econ?Ó Grayson answered:
ŇI
was an economist for more than three years, so I think soÉNow let me tell you
about what theyŐre talking about. TheyŐre complaining that Wall Street
wrecked the economy three years ago and nobodyŐs held responsible for that. Not
a single personŐs been indicted or convicted for destroying twenty percent of
our national net worth accumulated over two centuries. TheyŐre upset about the
fact that Wall Street has iron control over the economic policies of this
country, and that one party is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wall Street, and
the other party caters to them as well.Ó
OŐRourke
joked that Occupy Wall Street has found their spokesman, then Grayson
continued, ŇListen, if I
am spokesman for all the people who think that we should not have 24 million
people in this country who canŐt find a full time job, that we should not have
50 million people in this country who canŐt see a doctor when theyŐre sick,
that we shouldnŐt have 47 million people in this country who need government
help to feed themselves, and we shouldnŐt have 15 million families who owe more
on their mortgage than the value of their home, okay, IŐll be that spokesman.Ó
Alan Grayson demonstrated why all the media complaints about the unclear message behind Occupy Wall Street is nonsense. It took former Rep. Grayson 37 seconds to explain what Occupy Wall Street is about. He almost delivered the perfect 30 second sound bite, but he ran a tiny bit over. It isnŐt that the one percent and the Republicans who support them canŐt understand Occupy Wall Street. ItŐs that they donŐt want to. The message isnŐt complicated. The right has been trying to play on the fears of some who support Occupy Wall Street by claiming that the left is hijacking the movement, but the support and media sophistication of people like Alan Grayson and Bernie Sanders can only help these protests grow. Grayson demonstrated the value of having someone speak on the movementŐs behalf that understands and is comfortable with television. The right and many in the media will continue to make jokes and play dumb, but while they are laughing it up, a movement is growing. They may intentionally not understand the message of Occupy Wall Street, but millions of Americans do, and these people want their democracy back.