Monthly Archives: December 2012

Meme war: Kalle Lasn keeps pitching

Posted on December 25, 2012 by David S. Meyer

More than a year past the start of Occupy, Kalle Lasn of Adbusters has been pushing an anti-consumerist campaign, Buy Nothing Day.  Because of Lasn’s charm and media savvy, and because of Occupy, the campaign got some mainstream attention, but … Continue reading →

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NRA digs the bunker deeper

Posted on December 21, 2012 by David S. Meyer

In a surprise holiday gift to advocates of gun control, National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre called for armed guards in the nation’s schools.  It was a bizarre speech (read it here) and an odd departure from the … Continue reading →

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Creating a debate on gun laws

Posted on December 18, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Gun control advocates are trying to invigorate the long-ossified debate on national gun laws in the United States.  This means filling the moment of public attention caused by the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. Public demonstrations are … Continue reading →

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Making sense of tragic events

Posted on December 17, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The first few shots fired by a young man to kill his mother–who owned the gun–would not have broken through the orchestrated silence on gun control.  The movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado didn’t, nor did a pointed question at … Continue reading →

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Tracing the progress of same sex marriage

Posted on December 14, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Molly Ball’s excellent article in The Atlantic traces the development of the ongoing campaign for marriage equality.  Ball notes that 2012 was a watershed for the gay rights movement; after losing in state referenda 31 times, advocates of gay marriage … Continue reading →

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Movement overreach in Michigan

Posted on December 12, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder blamed the unions when he signed legislation designed to devastate them.  He said that he had no intention of pursuing “right to work” legislation in his state, because it would be controversial and divisive.  The last … Continue reading →

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Occupy outcomes: community, rhetoric, and law

Posted on December 7, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The influence of successful social movements generally plays out over a longer time than the movements themselves. What happens afterwards is complicated and contingent, and activists aren’t always quick to claim credit for what they’ve done. Nationally, Occupy effected a … Continue reading →

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The Tea Party versus the Republican Party (again)

Posted on December 6, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The Republican Party in Congress is riven between legislators who want to represent their politics clearly and consistently and others who want to govern.  We often score the first group as acolytes of the Tea Party, but it’s a little … Continue reading →

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