Arguably only successful “janes&joes” movement recently was the Tea Party demonstrations over the summer (though they got significant behind-the-scenes logistical and probably financial help from astroturf organization). They did it by getting together and acting like jerks in public on an issue that let politicians posture between them and the cameras.
In contrast, the supporters of health care reform and other liberal proposals spoke alone and were for the most part calm about it.
Another failed “movement” was the “Go Galt” movement in which various people threatened they would remove their services from society because of the imminent crushing burden of taxation and regulation Obama was going to impose. As far as I know, none of them did. That’s because they’re really plenty comfortable already and have no mechanism by which to egg each other on.
