If one were to ask the mainstream media what the goal of Occupy Wall Street was and who the protestors are, most outlets would respond accordingly: they have failed to make specific demands of political, social and economic institutions, they support a wide range of causes and they come from a wide array of socioeconomic backgrounds.
The mainstream media keeps asking the Occupy Wall Street protestors what they want from Wall Street and/or the American government only to be confused when they get different answers from different protestors. "Why don't they have one specific demand?" the media, confused, asks.
What the mainstream media has failed to recognize is that to make demands of the institutions currently in power would mean that the protestors actually want those institutions to remain in control. Rather than issue demands of the institutions in place, the protestors are calling for a radical rethinking and restructuring of government, power, and wealth in the United States. The mainstream media has also failed to realize that it isn't one issue that is inciting thousands of Americans across the nation to support Occupy Wall Street, but rather a litany of grievances everyday citizens have with their government.
So what do the protestors "want" to achieve through Occupy Wall Street? An end to the government privileging of big business for one. A rethinking of how our democracy operates for another. And adequate social, media and government attention to the issues plaguing everyday Americans.
We live in a country where the Republicans in Congress are pushing for fewer restrictions on big business in the name of small-government as they simultaneously fight to strip American women of their reproductive rights in a very big-government way. We live in a nation that insists our first black president provide the American people with his long-form birth certificate in a rhetoric comprised of not-so-subtle racist undertones, yet would never even think to ask the same of Texas Governor Rick Perry if he were to win the 2012 presidential election. We live in a country where we have to specifically tell LGBTQ youth that it "gets better" because there is uncontrollable bullying in our schools fueled by systemic homophobia. We live in a country where for eight long years it was considered unpatriotic -- if not practically treasonous to some -- to speak out against the wars being waged in the Middle East despite the fact that freedom of speech is a fundamental aspect of our nation's Constitution.
We live in a nation where the government bails out banks, only for everyday citizens to learn months later that those same banks gave multimillion-dollar bonuses to their CEOs. We live in a country where young Americans are defaulting on their student loans because they cannot find employment despite their 4.0 GPA from a top university. We live in a nation where FEMA is ill-equipped to respond to devastating natural disasters. We live in a country where war veterans, physically and/or mentally disabled from serving their country, are sleeping in the New York City subways during the winter in an effort to not freeze to death. We live in a nation where politicians invoke their religious beliefs as a reason for why they do or do not support certain issues or legislation despite the Constitutional separation of Church and State.
We live in a nation that does not know how to adequately treat LGBTQ persons when they have been arrested. We live in a country where nearly 1 in 5 children struggles with hunger. We live in a nation where a man is executed despite serious doubt regarding whether or not he actually committed the crime he was accused of. We live in a country where police are more likely to arrest Occupy Wall Street protestors than members of the Westboro Baptist Church who picket soldiers funerals.
Lastly, we live in a nation where the government provides more opportunities for big business to succeed than the everyday American.
And the media still wonders why people are taking to the streets in protest?
Tracey E. Vitchers is the co-founder and National Project Director for The 9/12 Generation Project, which is the youth education and volunteer outgrowth of the New York Says Thank You Foundation.
I am happy that the US citizen are starting to wake up and want change. :)
What we have and take for granted that many in the US OCW dream of, here is some of them:
* Free healthcare for all
* Free schools up to Collage (collage funded by government loans that anyone can get)
* True free speech rights
* Strict legislation on wish grounds a person can be fired from his workplace
(being colored, having a different opinion, for being with child or for being sick is a few)
* Right to 4-5 weeks of payed vacation per year for all
* A political system that more reflect all the aspects of the citizens wishes
Meanwhile in podunk Jacksonville Fl, the Occupy Jacksonville rally had more than 350 come out in bad weather and cheer for two hour of speakers(the human loudspeaker thing worked pretty well) and a march through downtown. It was unpermitted(as a city councilman showed up to tell us), but the police were polite an stopped traffic for street crossings during the march. The city has recently been laying of cops and trying to cut their benefits so while not carrying signs, they were pretty friendly about the whole thing.
And, while it was covered a little before it happened, I have been unable to find any reporting of the event.
I like it. I hope it stays on Facebook and twitter, until it grows too big to be ignored.
This group has to watch for plants, who cause trouble, like Gov. Walker told Koch Bros. he would do at Wisconsin peoples gatherings. The republicans have lots of money so occupy needs to be careful they do not get hi jacked. watch for phony groups on web, trying to get money at your expense, or write things you do not agree with. I support you but take care of yourself, fox/republicans/many old fogeys who have theirs, medicare, social security, military healthcare/retirement/VA are very critical.
The group needs to analyze 30 year of policies that have caused USA decline.Look at supply side-trickle down, union busting, unfair trade arrangements, destroyed manufactuing jobs which was backbone of middle class, These jobs allowed 70% of workers without college education to earn a decent living and move up. Service jobs do not pay enough to live.
Republicans continue to destroy manufacturing jobs by giving tax breaks to corporations who fire Americans and outsource computer jobs as well as shipping manufacturing jobs overseas.
It is good that no one has emerged as the "leader" and the manifesto has not been published. This movement will take a long time to achieve effective change. It is still early. Now is the time to gather large numbers of people in support. Solidarity will win the day, not appealling to the institutions for half measures. Let them have their fear.
The people are only now assembling in public parks and voicing discontent. I don't see how the political parties at this stage will be able to co-opt the movement, because it is difficult to effectively subsume what you don't understand. The pitchforks haven't come out yet. It is still early. Let them have their fear.
Re institute the Glass-Steagall Act (GSA). This act separated investment and commercial banking activities. “Improper banking activity", and overzealous commercial bank involvement in stock market investment and Real Estate was the main culprit of the financial crash. Commercial banks took on too much risk with depositors' money.
Stop Wall Street Gambling.
Stop short selling. It is promoting wild artificial swings in the market and the economy. It allows gamblers to profit from failure.
Stop Short selling and options trading of Food, Medicine, and Energy (OIL). Do not let the Stock Market Traders artificially raise and lower the cost of these necessities.
Propose that 10% of all Wall Street and Banking firms profit should be taxed and go to Food, Education and Medical Services for the 99%. And all bonuses and packages over $5,000,000 should be taxed at 50%. This is similar to the way the government taxes Casinos, and Tobacco.
Stop Derivatives Trading: Derivatives can be used to acquire risk, rather than to insure or hedge against risk. Thus, some individuals and institutions will enter into a derivative contract to speculate on the value of the underlying asset, betting that the party seeking insurance will be wrong about the future value of the underlying asset. Speculators look to buy an asset in the future at a low price according to a derivative contract when the future market price is high, or vice versa. Again it seeks profit on failure.
Right now in Portland, OR, protestors are being "held" behind 8' black-out fences so that they will not receive media attention during the Portland Marathon.
There was no other choice - either be "held" for 24 to 36 hours (yet undetermined when they will be released) or quit protesting and go home. I received an email from one of the Occupy Portland coordinators telling me of the situation, then went downtown to see for myself. I couldn't get within 20 feet of the park where the protestors are concealed, but I was able to climb a wall and take a photo. Ironically, the wall was surrounding the "Liberty Bell" memorial.
My 14 year old daughter asked if we could hold up a protest sign along the Marathon course, since we are not officially with Occupy Portland, and we were told "no, no protesting during the Marathon."
So, no individual citizens were allowed to practice their right to peacefully protest before the media this weekend here in downtown Portland. However, there were plenty of corporate sponsors flying banners claiming to be supporters of our community.
In a "progressive" city like Portland, I certainly wouldn't have expected the majority to go on with their Sunday as if it is "business as usual" while 600 protesters, who are simply asking to be heard on behalf of millions, were basically threatened with incarceration if they would not be silent.
A large "leftie and hippie" protest isn't really covered for at least two weeks and even when reported most of the press is negative.
Why?
******One side supports the oligarch policies and one does not. {wink}
The Song By Gil Scott Heron "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"
I'm not part of The 9/12 Generation Project, just one notch below...