OWS and The tea party are both likely to be long term phenomena caused by structural changes in the USA, and in the world economy. OWS still exists as a movement of sorts, but declined for two reasons:
- A failure to develop a platform of specific actions. Movements need policy objectives and they didn’t propose them. And leadership never emerged that could drive and negotiate them.
- The behavior of the members was deemed unacceptable: In the 60’s the underclasses were emerging as a numeric force sufficient to create both a political and consumer class. Further, their behavior was a rejection of the war, the postwar strategic nuclear threats, and the rigidity of their parent’s disciplined ‘war’ generation. These other factors are not in play at this time, so while the movement succeeded in propagating the 1% message, they discredited themselves by what the majority consider ‘uncivic’ behavior.