The Power of Mass Movements

I've come to believe recently that the best way to effect change in society is not through petitions or letter-writing campaigns to congressmen or presidents, but rather, through mass protests. Case in point: After weeks of vowing not to back down on the new job law, the French government decided Monday to scrap it after all.

The law had aimed to make the French work environment more American, i.e. more capitalistic. It would have made it easier to hire and fire young workers, and, in response, over a million protestors gathered for daily demonstrations all over the country. The protests were largely peaceful, and were able to achieve their aims. If Americans would do the same thing, then our voices could really be heard.