Flash Mobs for Political Impact

“How many people do you think are here?”, asked the local news reporter at the site of the event?

“Wow, there must be well over 1000! How did this happen?”, replied her camera man as they prepared to file a report about what they were witnessing.

The scene was at the official headquarters of Darrell Issa, the California republican congressman.  A flash mob of over 1000 young people were there to voice their disapproval of the congressman’s position on global warming.  The huge assembly of millennials were very vocal and energetic, but peaceful and respectful of the property they were occupying.  But there was no doubt in the mind of any observer that they were upset, focused, and dedicated to communicating clearly their anger at how tone deaf their congressman seemed to be to his constituency.

The crowd represented a demographic that could not be sold on the idea that if they were unhappy, just wait until the next election and vote Issa out.  They were old enough in spite of their youth to know that option rarely produces actual results.  They used and responded to the tools of their time and understanding, namely social media.  The word spread in a flash that this protest rally was going to happen.  They also knew that the practice of swarming a home base site of a legislator would be impactful, and was probably something that should happen repeatedly and not just once.  They mobilized early enough in the day that the congressman’s staff were still at work in the office. 

It was noticed by all who were close enough to see that the staff inside the building was lined up in the windows with worried, if not panicked, expressions on their faces.  And of course they were all either talking on their cell phones, snapping pictures, or texting as fast as their fingers could move.  This was working!  A new and effective method of political expression was being born on the spot.  Was their finally hope of being heard by the elitist government officials?

Tune in to your local news channel and see what is being said.

Did this actually happen?  No, but it really could, couldn’t it?  And it really should.  We all know the people can take back their power if the really want to.  The technology of today can go a long way toward supporting those who choose to make a difference and communicate that the status quo should not feel safe and secure any more.