Because, ultimately, that's what a lot of oppression comes down to-- when people are marginalized financially. It makes sense, on a basic level. First, have the ability to hold a job and feed a family. Second, voting rights and the like.
Spurred by an anti-consumerist magazine’s call to action (and operating under the slogan of "We are the 99%), for the past three weeks around 5,000 people have marched on America's most famous symbol of the higher-ups in finance.
But why did they start this? What do they want?
The first question is not terribly difficult to answer. Most of the United States is not in its happy place, economically. People are not very confident in the economy's future, and unemployment is at an undesirable 8.7%. It is certainly not unfathomable that a large amount of people would take to the streets in protest. Again, back to the nucleus of a lot of oppression-- the ability to provide for oneself and one's dependents. Doesn't seem unreasonable.
This leaves the second question: Why? What do they want?
The protest movement has been criticized as unfocused. It is modeled after the Arab Spring, yet the recent Middle Eastern protests seem to have the pretty clear goal of government overthrow/reform. It would be easy to dismiss 5,000 people in the largest city in the country as ignorant, disenchanted youth.
But anyone who calls these protests unfocused is clearly not listening. Occupywallst.org, the "unofficial de facto" voice of the protesters, released both a list of grievances (cleverly modeled after the Declaration of Independence) and a popular but unofficial Proposed List of Demands. The grievances are very broad but include workers' rights, education, and how money is handled; the demands, while equally far-reaching, are mostly for legislation for responsible banking and to minimize the influence of corporations of lobbyists on elections and the democratic process.
Of course, the protests are not as simple as that. There has been some debate over the role of unions in the protests, and many Republican politicians have expressed their contempt for the movement. But is there anything really all that reprehensible in the Occupy Wall Street sentiments? Don't most people agree with the basic tenet that corporate greed is bad? Or are they asking for too much?
I'd love some feedback concerning your personal feelings regarding the protests. Feel free to leave a comment. =)
Alex, I also blogged about the Occupy Wall Street movement (though I didn't manage to go into as much detail on the political aspects. Shhhh). I think that like most protests of this size, OWS is the result of years of pent up frustration being unleashed. Yes, we're short on jobs and the population lives in fear of the 'Great Recession' that some economists speak of. But I believe that the most major grievance that's sending these people into the streets right now is the idea that irresponsible bankers and investors caused all of the current economic troubles we face. Being poor isn't necessarily a reason to hold protests, but being poor because of somebody else's wrongdoing - that's quality rioting material. But it hasn't been a riot; the cool thing is OWS has gained substantial amounts of media coverage with minimal violence.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the OWS is being turned into a partisan issue (like everything else in this country), I think it's really just people's frustration with the economy. Corporate greed isn't a bad thing; Wall Street always has been and always will be "dog-eat-dog" and ultra-competitive. The OWS is really protesting the last 100 years of American business practices, and now that they are targeting wealthy neighborhoods in Manhattan to march in, I no longer approve of them movement. Honestly what are they trying to prove by doing that? None of those people are politically oppressing them. They are disrupting the lives of uninvolved, albeit wealthy, individuals. They could very well march through the North Shore. It's devolving into purely class warfare, and that will accomplish nothing.
ReplyDeleteI tend to be of the mindset of the haters of the OWS movement. I think that they often are unfocused, and though there are people who have been identified/identified themselves as leaders who are articulating certain points of interest, there are many of the people who are out and protesting who really have no idea why they are there. I agree with Taylor, this is quickly devolving into class warfare with no real goal other than get down the rich guys who have been keeping us down. I'm interested to see where this goes and if it has any real effect on policy or how our economic system works, but to be honest I don't forsee much happening from this.
ReplyDeleteDo any of the OWS protesters really think these marches through wealthy New York neighborhoods will affect real change? I know this sounds cliche and idealistic, but why aren't these impassioned people turning to the democratic system that separates America from the oppressive overthrown regimes of the Arab Spring, trying to pass legislature or getting lobbyists on their side? Or do they really just want to stir up bad blood within the fabric of American society?
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