It takes a particular type of individual with a unique constitution to stand out from the masses and speak out against injustice. To stand up when others feel helpless and to stand in the face of strong opposition – that is what demonstrates how dedicated a person is to their cause. Such is the fiber of the people who make up the Occupy movements that have become a worldwide phenomenon over the course of the past few months. Yet, realistically these protesters have done little for their cause, and yet participants in the Occupy L.A. protest continue to camp in front of City Hall.
The protesters incessant calls for change, despite their meager influence, serve as a reminder to the public that certain individuals are still willing to step outside of their comfort zone to seek what is right.
The Occupy demonstrations have been going on for nearly 5 weeks now, with no sign of slowing down. Despite the fact that some of the protesters have been picketing since the demonstration’s inception, the protesters have done little for their cause. The Occupy L.A. demonstration claims to represent “the 99%” of American citizen whose wealth drastically contrasts with the wealth of the top one percent. Protesters want to change financial landscape of the nation and ask the top one percent to give more of their money to the federal government in the form of taxes.
While their motivation is clear, what’s not clear is their solution. Countless interview after interview with protesters reveals no real plan for their envisioned end result. Yet they persist in their demands and have become a real pest in over 70 cities in the U.S. and over 600 internationally. The protesters’ invariable resolve to continue picketing is what demonstrates their commitment to this cause. In psychology, clinical insanity is diagnosed when a patient repeats the same behavior over and over again, expecting a different result. Though these protesters meet the criteria for clinical insanity, their commitment should be taken as a statement of how dire their cause is.
On the other hand, the movement comes off as somewhat contradictory. While the protesters seem to stand at odds with the top one percent of tax payers in the nation, their envisioned result asks that distanced group to rejoin the masses. Essentially, they are asking them to bequeath the “extra” income that they have to the government, and live humbly like the rest of the nation. Don’t think that the one percent is jumping out of line to rejoin the rest of the nation.
If there is one thing that this movement lacks, it’s a clear sense of a tangible solution. I agree that the top one percent of Americans should give more in the way of federal taxes than the rest of us, but it would be unwise to ignore what fuels the American economy. What drives Americans to continually innovate and push the boundaries farther than previously established is the well-engrained competitive nature of our country. To take away the rewards of breaking into the top one percent of our wage earners could have devastating and unforeseeable repercussions. It is a simple psychological equation that when you take away the rewards of a certain behavior, you can expect the behavior to deteriorate immediately.
While I may not personally agree with the motivations of these protesters, I cannot disregard their resolve. It is true that there is a growing divide between the rich and poor in our country, and that if the divide continues to expand we may one day see a new kind of civil war on our hands. The type of conflict that we see unraveling is a complicated issue and the dedication of these protesters is a wake up call for the rest of the nation. While their solution may not be the most advantageous, it is time for the rest of us to start searching for a new and appropriate solution.
I think I'd be more likely to support their cause if they showered...lol. Some of those protesters in NY really need a shower. Not feeling that kind of desperate dedication to their cause...lol
ReplyDeleteI agree that they should have a solution in mind and not just protesting for the heck of it. But it does show just how angry a lot of people are and what they are willing to do to support a cause. Maybe some people with actual solutions will join them and then actually create a tangible movement towards an achievable goal.
ReplyDeleteI think that when dealing with social issues, whats important is not necessarily that people have the right answer to a problem (because realistically, do we ever have a right answer?) but rather bringing attention to an issue that is important. I think that if the Occupy Protesters truly believe in their cause, then they are doing exactly the right thing. The first step to solving a problem is making sure that it is made visible in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very difficult for me and my peers to really understand the motivations behind the Occupy Wall Street movement because we have not lived in the real world long enough to understand the pressures of managing your own money and known the defeat you feel when your life's work and savings go down the drain in a financial crash that you had absolutely no control over. It is important to keep that in mind when discussing the Occupy Wall Street Protests, especially for people who are still financially dependent.
ReplyDeleteThat said I do agree with you that OWS lacks a cohesive vision for the future, but at the same time who are they to propose a solution? When the youth of this country were protesting the Vietnam war they didn't have a solution much past "peace now." The crux of the issue is exercising their voice, and I think you do a good job of commending them for that.
I understand where the protestors are coming from and their drive behind the Occupy Wall Street movement. Yes, in an ideal world it would be great if the one percent contributed more to society. But the way the protestors are going about it doesn't really make sense to me. I agree with the fact that they should have a clear solution. In doing so, the movement will become more comprehendible.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the OWS movement at all. Not in their ideology and not in the way they are carrying out the movement. There is a difference between raising awareness and just being a burden and a pest to society. They are reeking havoc in various cities at the expense of tax payers' money. I understand that they are trying to "take down corrupt corporations" but as they are doing that they are hurting the smaller businesses and citizens that could be placed in the so called 99% that they want to help. I read an article that talked about a coffee shop owner having to fire over half of his staff because he couldn't afford them due to the protesters blocking his store. I read another article by the WSJ called No Soup for You! in which they discuss how much of a burden these protesters are by going to soup kitchens and taking meals away from those who truly need it. Their protests are just hurting the society as a whole rather than resolving anything. If they are truly interested in bettering this society, they should put all that effort they are using to protest into finding an actual job.
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