Occupy Movement: The Duck Test
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…
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!
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.