Occupy Movement: The Duck Test

duck

This will probably be the last post on the Occupy movement for a long, long time…further proof that there is a God and He is merciful.

This journey was about discovering not only what the group was about, but to hear it from those participating. I wanted to believe they truly wanted to represent the 99%, and I wanted to believe their mission and actions would incorporate truly bi-partisan ideas.

I met some very nice people. I want to emphasize that–some were really enjoyable, and some I’d easily be willing to spend time with. But this wasn’t about how nice the people were–I wasn’t judging a pageant. And if I had been, there were plenty that reacted not-so-nicely on the Occupy Tacoma Facebook page.

I was told of people who were from the supposed right side of the aisle, and was even given links to their stories. But I wasn’t doing PR work, though I gave liberally of my own time and in allowing differing viewpoints on this blog. But nice anecdotes do not a movement make. Token members do not reflect a general population.

I even asked pointedly what the movement was about. Yet all I received were vague ideas, philosophies, and plenty of “information”, much of it bordering on conspiratorial. Oh, and lots of hits against the media, and in particular Fox News. Did I mention we don’t have broadcast or cable TV?

But what’s with the duck?

The duck test is a simple inductive reasoning test:

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

Simply put, the actions of the Occupy movement are left-wing, the talk of the Occupy movement is left-wing rhetoric, and the support of the Occupy movement is decidedly left-wing…so what can we fairly safely surmise?

This is no movement of the 99%. Saying it is doesn’t make it so, just as calling a duck a goose doesn’t make it one.

This will probably be the last post on the Occupy movement for a long, long time…further proof that there is a God and He is merciful. This journey was about discovering not only what the group was about, but to hear it from those participating. I wanted to believe they truly wanted to represent the…

2 Comments

  1. For the record, I've enjoyed your coverage of this movement, if that is indeed what we should call this. You were much nicer than I would've been. All in all, job well done!

  2. Thank you again for your views. It has been interesting to "hear" your take, and I am glad I got the chance, regardless. I think we might agree more than you might think on many things.

    Have a good Thanksgiving.