Wrobert:
Coming out of the battle over public education in California, I can tell you that the demand nothing tactic was a contentious one within the movement itself.
This is key: WITHIN the movement. I probably in that context would have opposed that tactic. But I would have done so with respect for those holding the opposite view, and supported whatever decision was made.
It is free-standing "criticism," focusing mostly on style, to which I object. The scare quotes express my doubt that such "criticism" stands as criticism. It is merely grouching from bleachers by those utterly indifferent to context and also quite ignorant of whatever processes of decision making brought about the decision. So I stand by the subject line -- and am not very interested in replies to it.
Michael P on the principles was, as usual, the height of calm reason and made very good sense. He made an effort (fairly successful I suspect) to 'see' the issue from_ inside, through the eyes of those reaching the decision.
Carrol