Thom Hartmann: How Can You Plan a Revolution when Big Brother is Watching?

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3. I do think the current model of street protests is broken

That's where the ability of the police to track and preempt protesters is most in evidence. More than that -- the police have been using both videos of protests and "catch and release" arrests to build up a database of known protest leaders and then single them out for arrest as soon as they show up at a new protest.

I suspect a more effective model will involve various forms of direct action. Working with the poor and disenfranchised. Taking on projects in abandoned urban and rural areas and carrying them out.

The idea of peacefully assembling and petitioning the government for redress may be enshrined in the Constitution -- but it simply doesn't work any more. Instead, doing those things that neither the government nor private business can be bothered to do will both actively make a better world and get the message across of what needs to be done and how to do it.