OWS could not effect change because it was not created by the people, it was not grassroots. It was a funded operation of political operatives. hence the same reason why it was not lambasted by both parties.

The Tea Party however was grass roots but it took less than twenty years for the Republican party to co-opt it. Before then both they and the Democrats demonized it. Why? Because it took control from the two parties that run the show.

Now the Democrats have a very nascent uprising of their own that they are desperately trying to smother. hopefully it lasts a bit longer than an election cycle or two.

US politics cannot change until two party rule is not the only outcome and this can only come to fruition by having campaign finance reform that blocks incumbents from the gravy train they have and removing restrictions on those seeking to unseat them. As in, the rules have always been written backwards - they always have been written to maintain the status quo and that is the lie that needs to be ended.