> As an abstract principle, I concur. But
> I don't know what violence accomplishes
> in this situation.
But who ever does?
It's sort of a weird question to ask, anyway -- as if big social upheavals like this should or could be guided by some kind of instrumental rationality. Any upheaval is going to attract window-breakers. Seen in that light, the appearance of window-breakers is a sign of the Occupiers' success. Whether in fact they help or hinder the movement isn't actually so easy to answer -- though the answer clearly seems so self-evident to so many of us.
As a general principle of method I would suggest that anything which seems self-evident is almost certainly wrong, and certainly deserves a closer look.
-- --
Michael J. Smith mjs at smithbowen.net
http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org http://www.cars-suck.org http://fakesprogress.blogspot.com
"I think the American people want a solemn ass as a President, and I think I will go along with them."
-- Barack Obama
(Okay, okay, it was really Calvin Coolidge.)