Occupy Nation by Todd Gitlin is a quick and informative read that highlights the key aspects of the Occupy movement. The book seemed to mirror the movement itself with its tendency to stray from the norm by having frequent pictures of protesters littered through the pictures. It was very easy to read because of the descriptive language and narrative-style format. It read more like a story than an academic piece. On the other hand, Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson’s The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism is written with a much more academic structure than Occupy Nation. However, I probably enjoyed Tea Party the most of the books we have read this semester because it was the most clearly written. Although the authors
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The Occupiers rejected any connection to the elites. While Elizabeth Warren was accused by her right-wing opponents of supporting the Occupy movement, the Occupiers themselves rejected any association with her due to her political standing. Anyone elected using the political system cannot, in Occupy’s mind, represent their beliefs. Occupiers denied association with politicians because of their hostility toward the Establishment and the way that “the culture of the Occupy movement clashes with the culture of elections” (Gitlin, 2012, 203). Similarly, the Tea Party movement in the beginning was highly suspicious of elected elites. In fact, many believed that “[political] endorsements might divide their ranks and encourage candidates to sweet-talk Tea Partiers” (Skocpol and Williamson, 2012,4). They were becoming increasingly disillusioned with the American political system and its allowance of the election of the hated liberals such as President Obama. However, as the movement gained popularity, it became nearly impossible for Tea Partiers to keep their movement out of the hands of the elite. The Tea Party grew to become a major influencer of the Republican Party, although leaders of both movements were careful to ensure that the Tea Party was not becoming a third party to divide Republican voters. Rather, Tea Party candidates began ousting the more moderate Republicans who had previously held
The Occupiers rejected any connection to the elites. While Elizabeth Warren was accused by her right-wing opponents of supporting the Occupy movement, the Occupiers themselves rejected any association with her due to her political standing. Anyone elected using the political system cannot, in Occupy’s mind, represent their beliefs. Occupiers denied association with politicians because of their hostility toward the Establishment and the way that “the culture of the Occupy movement clashes with the culture of elections” (Gitlin, 2012, 203). Similarly, the Tea Party movement in the beginning was highly suspicious of elected elites. In fact, many believed that “[political] endorsements might divide their ranks and encourage candidates to sweet-talk Tea Partiers” (Skocpol and Williamson, 2012,4). They were becoming increasingly disillusioned with the American political system and its allowance of the election of the hated liberals such as President Obama. However, as the movement gained popularity, it became nearly impossible for Tea Partiers to keep their movement out of the hands of the elite. The Tea Party grew to become a major influencer of the Republican Party, although leaders of both movements were careful to ensure that the Tea Party was not becoming a third party to divide Republican voters. Rather, Tea Party candidates began ousting the more moderate Republicans who had previously held