Legislative Flash Mobs Need Creativity
Published July 13, 2013
By Joe Mavretic
By Joe Mavretic, former House Speaker and NC SPIN panelist, July 13, 2013.
Over the past two years some of my friends have sent me emails containing videos of "Flash Mobs" around the world. These events appear to be spontaneous but actually are carefully planned by a few joyful conspirators. When the conspirators begin the event, an unsuspecting crowd gradually joins as participants in a delightful occasion. As the event concludes, everyone disburses with a smile on their face. Often, I forward the video to my friends, hoping to bring a smile to them. I am a fan of flash mobs with their creativity, exuberance and energy. I like their message.
A couple of thoughts about Flash Mobs.
First, I've never received a video of a joyful flash mob in a Muslim dominated country. In those nations, flash mobs are usually started with a car bomb.
Second, flash mobs at our Legislative Building are without joy. A bit of creativity might help.
July 13, 2013 at 4:00 pm
Bill Koch says:
One word was left off of the words "flash mobs at our Legislative Building." That word is "illegal." I say that because if they were legal, no one would be arrested.
July 13, 2013 at 4:23 pm
dj anderson says:
"...flash mobs at our Legislative Building are without joy. -- blog
They look pretty happy, all smiling, lining up to get the twist ties put on! But, Tom, calling the very civil crowd a mob is brave. Tom is the first Democrat of any standing to counter the protests, and I think he is doing it here. I don't think he is calling for JOY.
People attend as if a social event, to see and be seen, it seems to me and so they don't feel so helpless in their powerlessness after having never lived under a totally republican state government.
Republicans will exaggerate their good effect as McCrory did to the NYTimes, and Democrats are exaggerating NC plunge over the abyss of decline.
Unless the protesters become truly angry and attack the GA, taking it over, and having a coup de tat, democrats are going to have to figure out how to behave like the republicans did for over a century when Democrats were having their way.
The Dems are a mob in the sense there is no true leader, well, except for Rev. Barber and the NAACP. They might decide to meet every Monday for years on the grass and see if that wins votes outside those party faithful whose votes are already owned by the blue team.
