In preparation for the G20 summit, some Pittsburgh activists convened the People's Summit to discus a global social and economic agenda without involving the global elite. Even as they claim to offer an alternative to a shallow commercial culture, they use vapid leftist buzz words that would comfortably fit into a corporate press release. As reported by the sympathetic G20Media, their rallying cry is:

"We share the conviction that another world is possible,"

Another world is possible. I've heard that before, and let me tell you that it means nothing to me and does not appeal to anyone I know. This is not the slogan of a successful political movement-- it is a self-gratifying expression of cultural identity for wishy-washy malcontents. If you wonder why conservative (effectively) deride leftist activism as "fashionable", this is it.

I cannot think of one person I know who is interested in creating "another world", especially if we have no description of how this world would be better. Granted, my associates are largely from the top third of the socio-economic scale, but even among poorer people I don't see any demand for general radical change (if anything, they are more conservative). While many peopled are bothered by the serious problems of the world--including war, poverty, and environmental degradation--they view these problems as distinct obstacles on the road to a brighter future and not symptoms of a fundamentally corrupt system. 

Other highlighted comments from the meeting just illustrate how hopeless this movement is when it comes to connecting with people outside of the emotionalist radical activist circles:

 "Everyone always asks about our solutions. If we come back to what actually feeds our souls," said Hallie Boas, at the panel discussion, laying one hand over her heart, "the solutions are right here."

and...

"The ultimate solution to climate change is to move away from capitalism."

So here's my advice to future summit organizers: tell us what you are for rather than what you are against, use words that everyone can understand clearly without first reading Das Kapital, and make your rhetoric appealing to people who have not yet bought the radical agenda. In this spirit, I suggest "Freedom and prosperity, for all and forever". I'm sure others can think of something better.