Will Occupy Wall Street Change Anything?
Oct 28th, 2011 | By Andrew | Category: Economics, Financial, Top Headline | Print This Article
The Occupy Wall Street movement started without much fanfare. Early on, protesters were more or less mocked as a giant joke. Who were these yahoos sitting out in Zuccotti Park thinking they were going to change the way this worked?
Nearly two months later, the questions are much less mocking. The Occupy Wall Street movement has spread worldwide. Demonstrations are taking place not just in New York but in Rome, Hong Kong, and Mexico City. Protesters share a dislike for global fat cats and major financial conglomerates, and from a batch of ne’er do wells we now have both the famous and infamous banding together against greedy bankers and incompetent governments. Clearly the movement as a whole isn’t going away, but the outcomes of the protests remain anyone’s guess.
Getting Some Attention
One goal the Occupy Wall Street crowd has accomplished is getting some attention. While the attention has not always been positive, the group is now on the radar. Their slogan, “We are the 99%,” resonates with many Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. Interviews with protesters who are members of the long-term unemployed, students crippled by loan debt, and workers who lost their homes to predatory mortgages all raise support for the group.
On the other hand, the Occupy Wall Street group’s desire to avoid traditional protest group leadership structures and goals makes it easy for headline lovers to grab the spotlight. Polarizing public figures such as Michael Moore and New York union bosses have used the chatter around the Occupy Wall Street to amplify their own personal agendas. The result is a lot of airtime, but it’s not clear if fifteen minutes of fame for the movement is going to be enough to make a permanent mark in the way that America or any other nation interacts with the financial community.
Making A Political Difference
Since it is now impossible to ignore the Occupy Wall Street crowd, their existence has transferred into the political space. Candidates from Republican and Democratic parties have blamed each other for creating the wealth gap between rich and poor that so troubles the protesters, while the Wall Street Journal reports that the protesters themselves aren’t from any one political background. They aren’t thinking along party lines anymore – they’re concerned about issues and results, which is troublesome in an election year.
Politicians feel that they have to make comments about the Occupy Wall Street situation, but the group is at risk of becoming another unruly poster child such as Joe the Plumber. The group doesn’t fit neatly into any one background, and individual protesters expressing their unfiltered negative views of government policies on network TV is risky for candidates. As a result, all of them will try to appear “friendly” to the movement without getting too close. The group may drive greater political caution in making economic recovery statements or supportive statements for banks, but they aren’t a strong enough bloc of voters to shift major policy proposals.
Where Do They Go Next?
From the parks of New York and a disorganized movement, the Occupy Wall Street movement has a lot of space to expand. The first step has already been taken in spreading to other cities around the country and around the world. Early steps are also being taken to “occupy” rural sections of the country, with The Rural Site reporting marches in Southern Missouri and parts of Iowa. Though smaller, these marches tend to have more focused targets and larger publicity platforms in their markets.
The movement itself is also narrowing. November 5th, Guy Fawkes Day in England, is being co-opted as a day to close accounts with big banks to withdraw support for the existing system. Sporadic acts of vandalism against financial institutions and individuals are also breaking out. The movement has to decide if drilling down on specific financial institutions and players is going to be the next natural evolution, or if a greater change will be effected by staying loosely organized and “against” multiple targets.
Will the group ultimately succeed at reshaping the world’s financial landscape? Time will tell. In the meantime, they are certainly reshaping the conversations and letting financial leaders know that they are being watched by the millions of have-nots in the world who have decided to become a not-so-silent majority.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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These protests have been planned by the unions since last spring. With Michael Moore making more that 20 million for one movie, it’s hard to believe that he isn’t part of the 1%. Susan Sarandon supporting the protests by getting out of her limo on the way to a European film fest isn’t a really good example either. $18/muffins, and some of the food they have been served, no wonder they are there fore 2 months.
I agree with cindy accupy is a set up to create riots just like other parts of the world so they can put in place marshall law here dont fall for it
Occupy is defiantly not a spontaneous movement, planned by the elites to distract, these ‘useful idiots’ are being used like pawns. Expendable! Fodder for the fire! There is a well organised top, Van Jones comes to mind, along with Steven Learner and other Union bosses that are looking for the ‘Workers of the World’ to unite. The Acorn Radke Brothers are working in other countries to stay under the radar, but have been exposed in the Egypt Arab Spring. This occupy is part of an occupy by Communist minded people, you really think it collapsed in ’92, only the name and the game changed, the communist met in Berkeley, and planned the take over, while the UN with Agenda 21 have plotted to redistribute the wealth from the rich to the poor, the haves to the have nots. This is just a sample of what has been going on, this goes very deep and has many roots that have followed the alinsky rules of ‘drop the radical pose, fopr the Radical ends’ in other words the Radicals of the 60′s have joined the establishment to use our own Nation of laws to defeat us without firing a shot, as Kruschev said would be done..words have meaning. The way to defeat this nightmare is to get involved in your local community, County and State to elect Common Sense Representatives. Stop the spread of Communism!
Who cares who started the movement they are right on with me. the middle class is slowly being widdled down. If it did not get to you yet, just waite a while. these things always done a little at a time.commumnist my ass. Jobs today pay the same money as 25 or 30 years ago unless your a goverment worker cop or teacher the goverment needs them to brain wash your children tax you or lock you up. There your jack booted nazi enforcers while there backers in the insurance and banking get more controll with there washington dc pals in there pocket wake up change the whole system to a one man one vote repubic no lobbyiest no political contributions over 50 dollars no pack money Every time some body stands up to change things some nut jobs screams communist I say off with there heads.
@Tis Himself: Aside from your poor spelling and grammar skills, which I will no longer point out, I have a few problems with your defense of OWS.
First, you make the comment “who cares?” The answer is, anybody who doesn’t want to replace a quasi-tyranny with a full-blown tyranny. If you aren’t interested in re-establishing the republic as provided in our Constitution, you are not my friend. Perhaps we have some of the same enemies, but I know who those enemies are and what they are trying to do. OWS keeps denying everything about it’s financial backers, it’s behind-the-scenes leaders, and it’s goals for this country. Based on the pieces that have been made public, I want nothing to do with OWS or its plans for America.
Second, jobs do NOT pay the same money as they did 25-30 years ago. The minimum wage has risen three or four times in that period. In addition, the tech industry (which was in its infancy 30 years ago) has added quite a few high-paying jobs in the last 30 years. Perhaps you mean the salaries have stayed stagnant due to inflation and other outside forces, but even if that is true it is hardly the fault of any of these businesses that OWS wants to bring down.
Third, your final comment. “…off with their heads.” So you are advocating violence against people who have a different political philosophy than yourself? Belief in of Constitutional law is a conservative trait. Belief in arbitrary mob violence is a fascist and communist trait. The time for choosing sides is almost upon us, it would appear you have chosen your side. You should make your choices more wisely in the future.
I suppose the question is: when will the folks in the US figure out that as We-The–People should not belong to any political party.
An Independent voter is the voter with the power.
If the majority were Independent Voters the politicians would have to “guess” and be honest rather than the ‘spin’ currently imployed.
Just a thought
People should be afraid of their Government, the Government should be afraid of it’s people!!!!!!