Occupy Wall Street is a movement that has been growing nationwide over the past several weeks. While some criticize this growing movement as having no definitive policy agenda or organized platform, the activists involved are generally organized against corporate greed, social inequality and other disparities between rich and poor.
These protests have continued to attract support from many around the nation as well as increasing media attention. Take a look at a good summary of this protest movement from the NY Times here and, if you are interested, you can look at the movement's main website here or livestream of events here. Also I suggest you look through a very interesting photo blog running of hundreds of supporters of the movement (identified as "the other 99 percent, as opposed to the top 1% of extremely wealthy Americans) sharing their stories here. Although there is no clear agenda yet, the primary purpose of the movement is a direct participatory process organized through general assemblies and working groups. Finally there is a very interesting visual description of why these protesters are so upset that gives some good data, which you can find here.
After reading and perusing through this information the growing movement (and there is much much more out there) please start a discussion using the following prompts as a starting point:
- To what extend to you support the protests?
- Do you believe that this movement is going to affect the political agenda of the President or GOP candidates? If yes, in what way? If no, why not?
The Occupy Wall Street movement does have very legitimate grievances that majority of the country share, including myself. What is great about this country is that we have the right to free speech and the ability to come together and openly discuss the wrongs and the rights. While corporate America has in many ways screwed over the “99%” because of their greed and people are angry, what I do not like about the Occupy Wall Street movement is that it is disorganized and unfocused. I’ve been closely watching developments and listening to interviews of protesters and I have to say I am not impressed. Many people are there because of personal vendettas, which arguably they have a right to be, but are not there for a national cause or change. They want checks in their mailboxes tomorrow from corporate America to pay back loans and debt. This will never happen! Someone needs to step up and come up with a legitimate approach to the problem with a concise list of problems that can be directly addressed by lawmakers and politicians. The president and GOP candidates know that the economy is in bad shape, unemployment is a disaster and something needs to be done. We already see the president trying to rally up support for his economic plan while GOP candidates are making theirs known to potential voters. This issue is definitely front and center in the upcoming 2012 election.
ReplyDeleteMy brother is a lawyer and works in a firm whose building’s plaza is the location of the current protests. He tells me that every day when he goes to work he is accosted by protestors, yelled at and told some pretty disgusting things. They assume that because he wears nice clothing and has a job that he’s responsible for ruining their lives. My brother likes to say that he yells back at them, telling the protestors that he too is part of the 99% and working to pay off loans, debt and support a family. Businesses in the area around the protests are losing tremendous money each day because people cannot get to that area, are afraid to go, etc. One restaurant in downtown, who had about 100 employees, had to lay off about thirty of them because business is so bad. These workers who were laid off went on T.V. and begged the protestors to realize that their actions are having an adverse effect. Each day news reports come in of increasing violence among the protest camp, lewd acts and who knows what else! When I hear this it just makes me think that these protestors are unfortunately there only for a free ride and a good time.
Before I read all the links you sent us, I really didn't think the #OWS movement had any legitimate points. In my mind, they weren't protesting anything other than Capitalism, which is a basic tenant of American life. I didn't understand how they could expect any changes in the system without the system turning Socialist. And I'm still somewhat confused about that, however, after reading all of the different articles, I understand that it's much more than asking for handouts. There are real flaws in the system. What I don't agree with is who they are protesting to. These people should be lobbying to government agencies for changes in tax laws as well as minimum wage laws and employee laws etc. Corporate greed is unfortunate, but it is not necessarily illegal. I think if the protesters used their man power to put pressure on political leaders, THEN it could have some affect on the President or GOP candidates. However, the way they are protesting now seems pointless to me. No one on Wall street wants to hear them, and their ongoing presence isn't going to make the greedy company leaders change their mind. Instead, it might annoy them even more. Additionally, many people from the OWS Tumblr seem to have health care issues for why they can't work, which I also don't think has much to do with Wall Street execs.
ReplyDeleteI actually do agree with the Wall Street protests but I do not agree with how they are handling it. Like Lea and Tovah has said before me there should be a better, more effective, way for these protestors to prove their point. Apparently, people are there when they do not even know what they are there for. It is one thing to protest but there also needs to be some sort of plan moving forward. I do agree with their sentiments though about the inequality. I found the link that includes all the statistics extremely disturbing. This statistic particular astounds me: "the top 1% of Americans own 42% of the financial wealth in this country. The top 5%, meanwhile, own nearly 70%." That is an incredible amount for only 5%!
ReplyDeleteAlso, when I looked at the OWS Tumblr I became very disheartened. There are so many people out there who are struggling. I knew about this, of course, but it just does not seem fair for there to be such a huge gap. Unfortunately, that blog really struck a chord for me (and probably other college students as well) because soon I will be out of college and also looking for work and with the economy going the way it is - there doesn't seem to be much hope.
I'm not sure if this will affect the political agendas of the President or the GOP candidates. All I know is that I definitely do think it should be addressed. It is not like this is something normal for countries to have to deal with either. In the the chart that shows that "the top 0.1% in America are doing way better than the top 0.1% in other first-world countries" it is clear that this is America's issue and it needs to be solved.
I believe that The Occupy Wall Street movement has its purpose. I think that this movement may not be making headlines regarding the changes they want to see, but it IS making headlines. I think it’s a good way to allow personal expression and allows opinions to really shine. I think that this protest is helpful for the purpose of having your voice heard, but when it comes to an actual change being made, I am not really sure if the voices of the protesters are loud enough, or organized enough. The way that this protest began has definitely changed, and it seems like it is starting to become a bit of an annoyance. I don’t really know what the eventual outcome will be- positive or negative- but I do know that the fact that something as simple as our class blog being based on this topic means that the Occupy Wall Street movement is definitely making some noise.
ReplyDeleteThe Occupy Wall Street movement is heavily made up of people very frustrated by the economy's stagnant state and the lack of basis to be optimistic for the near future. I can identify with these frustrations, but I feel that the only thing the protestors have in common is frustration. They are very unfocused in having an effective plan of their own.
ReplyDeleteI think OWS will definitely affect the GOP race, since this is not a movement that is dying out or leaving quietly. For example, Mitt Romney is being accused of flip=flopping on the issue by saying “All the streets are connected — Wall Street’s connected to Main Street — and so finding a scapegoat, finding someone to blame, in my opinion, isn’t the right way to go" and "I worry about the 99 percent in America" at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire a few weeks ago.
While I believe that the goals of the Occupy Wall Street protesters are fair and just, the ways they are going about them is not. Obviously everyone wants social and economic equality, and fairness for all classes in the U.S. With the last 3 years or so being filled with both financial and accounting fraud, the public has a right to speak out against the financiers and Accountants who were a huge cause for the recession we find ourselves in. But the facts are, I’m not sure that camping out in Zucotti Park will practically them any results. Clearly, their voices are being heard, as they are in all of the newspapers, however, I’m not sure that what they’re looking to be achieved will be achieved. Their ideas are just and very right, however I do not believe that the government will change its agenda. The government is doing what it can to provide equality for all economic classes, with or without the protests. I believe the protesters, who are majority liberals and anarchists, are fighting for the sake of fighting, and therefore are ignorant of the fact that their attempts will probably fail.
ReplyDeleteThe people within the Occupy Wall Street movement most definitely have a right to be there as well as a claim to make--why should the majority of money be with the "1%"? But because they don't have a real defined way of doing things and have no real leader of the movement I do not really think anything will get done. Sitting in a park with strangers and protesting; it's not going to help get you a job. I understand their frustration but they're not handling this in the best way.
ReplyDeleteI think Occupy Wall Street's most valuable characteristic is that it is truly a movement promoting class consciousness. I strongly believe that many Americans before the start of these protests would have been ignorant to the fact that 1% of the population controls a drastic proportion of the nation's wealth. Occupy Wall Street has become a national phenomenon and people are now more aware of the gross financial injustices perpetuated throughout American society. I do agree that the lack of goals and leaders not only prevents the group from any major achievements, but it also allows the general public to dismiss their sentiments and quickly label them as "socialist hippies." However, Occupy Wall Streeters are enlightening the rest of America to the fact that "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" capitalism is an inherent fallacy and there must be some form of government regulation instated if we're to help remedy these societal wrongs. Additionally, I think that the protests will in fact have a great affect on the 2012 election. For example- because of our recent familiarity with the meaning of "the 99%", if a Republican candidate chooses to keep the tax breaks for the top 1%, I think this will cause a much greater uproar than maybe it would three months ago. Just like the Republican party had to incorporate Tea Party demands and politicians into their agenda, the Democratic party is going to have to figure out how to appease some of Occupy Wall Street's demands.
ReplyDeleteLike many of my classmates, I support the goals of Occupy Wall Street but I am not in favor of how these goals are being communicated. As the Business Insider article cited above mentions, the unemployment rate is alarmingly low, yet corporate profits are record high. This inequality needs to be addressed and eliminated. That being said, I am not confident that these protests are the way to go about fixing these serious problems. I am hesitant because, as others have mentioned, the specific agenda of the protesters is not organized or unified making it difficult to address their grievances. I acknowledge that these protests, rapidly spreading, have been successful in attracting media attention and gaining attention for the cause. It is the awareness to these issues and the widespread popular support of the movement that leads me to believe that this movement cannot be ignored and it will affect the political agenda in the upcoming presidential election. I think that bringing specific issues that have come up in the protests into the presidential election is a more effective way of attempting to achieve the goals of Occupy Wall Street compared to the current strategy of camping out in the park and having a long list of various complaints.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Occupy Wall Street started as something small, it now is continuing to grow and take on a new culture of its own. This culture is attempting to tell the world that there are people out there who are unable to partake in the benefits of society because they simply cannot afford it. They have been priced out of the market and are unable to get back on to the journey of life. I must admit that I both agree and disagree with the entire idea and concept. I agree to a certain extent about what there protesting on, because worldwide economies have changed and there are many people who are unable to partake of the simple joys of life. There are not enough jobs and prices for many items continue to rise. I agree that people can express their feelings in whichever manner they choose and in a way that will insure that they be heard in society. At the same time I disagree with the approach that has been taken. Instead of just sitting outside trying to protest and obstructing commerce and adding to the costs of government workers, I think it would be a good idea to get out there and putting what they want to action. Instead of protesting go look for a job, protest in marches that do not obstruct commerce, but that bring attention to the core values. America is great because of the freedom of speech, but it is also great because it is the land of opportunity. Many protesters are expecting societies around the world to adapt to their needs rather than them adapting to the world that is changing. I do believe that this entire movement represents many other people who are not protesting, but who are finding maintaining a job and supporting a family very difficult. This will greatly affect the upcoming election and the President is really paying attention to this. Just sitting around won’t help the cause and the President will be forced to act to improve their lives.
ReplyDeleteAs an American who strongly believes in freedom of speech, I believe it is our duty to allow the movement to voice their opinions assuming it remains peaceful and safe. However, I do not support the protest. While I am concerned that the middle-class is weakening and I truly sympathize for the countless Americans suffering from the realities of unemployment; I believe the protesters are assuming the roles of selfish individuals who believe they are deserving of rights they did not earn. Instead of protesting they should work or at least search night and day for jobs instead of camping in a park. Instead of expressing anger towards successful individuals they should find their own successes. Instead of harassing and accosting hard working individuals who are just trying to work for a living they should voice their opinion in other ways. Furthermore, their rancor towards Jews, wealthy individuals, and anybody that is not a member of the radical left highlights their immaturity.
ReplyDeleteAssuming the status quo remains I believe that the protests will very much effect the election. Obama, will continue to enhance his populist image and utilize the protests at his attempted class-warfare. He will continue to blame the "one percenters" and the protesters will blindly follow. Of course, both Obama and the protesters will conveniently forget the millions if not hundreds of millions he will raise from places like Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan and other Wall Street firms. The Republicans in turn will take this perceived class-warfare and turn use if for he upper and lower classes. Furthermore, fiscal conservatives such as Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie, although not running for election will be influential in the election and will highlight the importance of not kowtowing to the demands of the protesters. Lastly, a year ago people thought that unions were in untouchable and the occurrences in both Ohio and Wisconsin reflect that public opinion has swayed. I believe the republicans can capitalize on the protesters if they continue to explain the dire financial states of most state governments and the Federal government as well.
Although the protesters of OWS are disorganized and lack practical demands, I must commend them for the actions they have taken so far. Although most of the girls in the class who have posted so far do not agree with the protesters methods I find many of their tactics to be powerful and affective. Firstly, the lengthy New York Times article is just one of many reports on the protests, which proves how much public attention they are receiving. When hundreds of people protest in public on a constant basis it is impossible that their voices would not attract some sort of attention. Whether that attention is positive or negative is not clear, but at least they are being noticed and not ignored. Secondly, the protests have made such an impact on other people that they are no longer limited to Wall Street in New York. Similar protest have also occurred in many other cities across the country and inspired similar protests in foreign countries as well, which is an impressive feat. Thirdly, with their user friendly website and dramatic blog of people’s stories it is hard not to feel some sort of sympathy towards their cause. And this is just the beginning. As time goes on the group will most probably continue to grow in power and numbers, which will ultimately lead to the creation of a proper list of demands and ideas. At that point the government will have no choice but to work with the 99% in order to make a more productive country. This is the type of protest that will go down in the history books!
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ReplyDeleteIn the last couple of months there has been a great deal of attention drawn towards the Occupy Wall Street protests. Obviously our country grants its citizens the right for freedom of speech so this protest is legally allowed to exist, however, what it has become is something I don’t really support. The protestors have taken their frustrations too far, as the New York Times has noted the actions of the protestors including “spraying graffiti, burning garbage and breaking windows”. These people have a right to be frustrated that 1% of Americans control and have access of the majority of the money, that people are out of jobs and that wall street despite heavy losses continues to make some money and was saved with a government bailout. (Even though without the bailout the whole system would have broken down and everyone else would have been worse off.) As said above the protestors lack a leader who has clearly defined the goals to what this protest entails. Yes, they have made their point that about the 1% vs. the 99% but is it really clear as to what they want? Or how they think anything can be improved. Certainly their violent behaviors wont help with getting anything done. I don’t think OWS will affect any of the candidates because the candidates are involved with gaining influence in the swing states. (Ohio, Arizona, Florida). It’s important for the candidates to be middle of the road regarding this issue. If Obama comes out and supported the protestors, the moderates in those states could view it negatively. The GOP candidates are basically opposed to occupy Wall Street. Their constituents view this claim positively, so even in the swing states they wont be negatively impacted by lack of support. Occupy Wall Street has had a negative affect on its surrounding areas and soon enough will have to come to an end since it doesn’t look as if the violence being performed is contributing to a proactive approach to the standing issues.
ReplyDeleteOccupy Wall Street is a great example of our Constitution working. It's important to recognize the privilege we have to voice our opinions openly and freely, since there are many societies in other regions of the world that have faced violent suppression by their governments, which have led to further conflicts. Unemployment is at an unprecedented high, and there are many unhappy citizens who want to see a change. Protesting is a viable way to express frustration and voice opinions. However, it's definitely not the most effective way to reach the government. As mentioned by others, these individuals should march into government offices and speak directly to their representatives. It's important that communication of this nature take place, because right now there are no faces to the issue. Representatives want to hear the problem and proposals for how to solve it. On that note, OWS really needs a mission statement, aside from identifying itself as the 99% juxtaposed with the 1%. Think up solutions that don't undermine our capitalist system. It's important to understand that there will be elites in our democracy. That's how our society works. So they need to be realistic about their goals.
ReplyDeleteAs far as elections go, the issue of the economy is much greater than just the OWS protestors. They will be acknowledged as a powerful, important group of people, advocating for something important. But it's hard to respond directly to them. If anything, this will challenge the candidates to think up better solutions since no prior efforts have had favorable results and new ideas are not taking hold.
- Elana Honick
To directly answer the question, I think that Occupy Wall Street is a terrible thing. I know that we are all frustrated with the economy and wish it were easier to get by. I think it’s ironic though that despite the fact they seem to be demonstrating for a better economy, they have in many ways made it worse. Now that there are all these rioters who act on impulse camping out on the streets, New York, a city that is also suffering from economic hardships, needs to take of its limited financial resources and provide security to the rioters who so often vandalize the property that surrounds them. I personally know of stores on Wall Street that have been forced to lay off workers despite being strong businesses only months ago. Additionally I thought it was interesting that the New York Times article said that similar protests recently took place in countries like Egypt, Spain and Israel. I do not at all think that the protests in New York are comparable to the riots in Israel. The protesters in Israel were not looking to redo the entire economic system but rather looking to just lower the cost of living, specifically housing. The Occupy Wall Street protest has been criticized for not having a clear agenda, and although we can understand that the economy is at the core of their frustrations, they are a very volatile group of people who can be heard shouting things like “Jews run wall Street”. The Washington Times ran an article about the prevalence of Anti-Semitism in the Occupy Wall Street group. A group so driven by emotion, with an unclear agenda and so willing to yell racist slurs scares me a lot and reminds me of other historical groups who share similar qualities like for instance the early origins of the Nazi part before it gained a large backing. That might be radical but I think it is important to realize that when people feel so strongly they incorporate other problems into what was once their main focus and they lose clear sight of what is actually going on and we can turn to history to provide us with examples of that.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Rebecca. If the movement had a clear agenda and set goals that were achievable through their actions, then it would be a commendable movement. However, these protesters do not posses that and are not achieving anything. They are simply wasting our resources. I definitely believe that everyone has a right to have their voices heard, but as a trained lobbyist (which clearly comes with a slanted view of things) I fully believe that the best way to get your voice heard is by having a seat at the table instead of banging on a closed door. These protesters should organize themselves strategically and storm Washington and lobby for their cause. That's the way to get your voice heard in the US. This is not the way you accomplish your agenda. It's just a waste of time, but it certainly good material for the morning papers!
ReplyDeleteEveryone brings great points to this discussion and I can only add by saying that I agree with most of what everyone is saying. We all know that voice is a powerful tool; it all depends on how you use it. If used properly, it can create change very quickly. I think it is so important to stand up for what you believe in and develop a relationship with a great cause. On the other hand, when I hear that most of these protests are effecting others negatively, it doesn't sound so good to me. When those loud voices turn into crazy screaming people that cause others to lose their jobs, I have difficulty agreeing with the purpose of this cause. When people are yelling at a lawyer who is simply going to work (and part of the 99%) this is when a leader needs to come about. I think this protest lacks major leadership. They are getting attention and I do believe they are affecting the political agenda of the President and GOP candidates, I just don't know if it's good or bad attention. I agree with Miriam who wrote that it seems to be that the biggest thing that the protestors have in common is frustration. I think if they get more organized and really get their act together, they can go very far. But the posts people put online that I looked at are amazing and really give the 99% an outlet to express their stories.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to briefly respond to Rebecca Abrams' post- the article in the New York Times that you mentioned which discussed Anti-Semitism in Occupy Wall Street clearly discussed that the man holding a sign that said "Google: Zionists control Wall Street" was condemned by everyone else present and not representative of the group as a whole. There's even a picture of someone standing next to this man with a sign calling him a derogatory name with an arrow pointed at the anti-Semitic poster holder. It's really misleading to use one person's actions in analyzing the entire movement.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, when you start comparing things to Nazism (and I don't really understand here how a group advocating for a more equal financial distribution is similar to one who advocated for racial purity and ethnic cleansing), not only is it extremely outlandish and offensive, but it's dangerous. If we start comparing things to Nazism (as often done with political pundits) we immediately dismiss any validity to a group as well as engage in heated rhetoric that is almost always unwarranted.
Rebecca- I truly don't mean to attack you (and I hope you don't take it that way), I just think it's important to set some of this stuff straight.
Like many of you have said, I think the issues that Ocuppy Wall Street are complaining about are legitimate. I was a little shocked by the statistics presented by the article in the Business Insider link, before I read that article I don't think I fully realized how big the gap has grown in recent years between the rich and the poor in this country. To think that 5% of people own almost 70% of the wealth in this country while so many are suffering seems absurd and I agree with OWS that something needs to change.
ReplyDeleteWhen I looked through the movement's website, I was impressed and at the same time skeptical of the way OWS operates. They call themselves "an experiment in direct democracy" and from what I understood every decision, big and small, is made in the General Assembly by a consensus vote of hundreds of people and at any time a single individual has the power to block a motion from being passed if they are passionate enough about it. I think for this reason they have had so much trouble agreeing on a list of demands, and although I am sure that they will receive a lot of attention from Obama and the other Presidential candidates because they have been making so much noise in the media lately, I am not sure how much if anything they will be able to accomplish without first deciding what their own demands are.
I am in favor of the Occupy Wall Street protest because it brings to light the ever-increasing income inequality problem in America. People need to realize that the economic policies that we have are not working for us, and that unless we change them, middle class Americans will become extinct. The 99% Occupying Wall Street are fed-up with a system that has been designed to allow the rich to get richer, very much at the expense of the lower and middle classes. And while these few at the top benefit from democracy, it is becoming increasingly clear that many of them do not contribute to that same democracy in the same way that the middle and lower classes do.
ReplyDeleteHowever, while the concept is good as a reminder of a serious problem, it would be more helpful if they also stood for a particular cause. When people protest, they create an opportunity for people to demand change. If the Occupy Wall Street movement does not begin with demands, someone else will fill the vacuum. One of my friends suggested that for the 99% to make an impression on the nation’s policy, they should join the Republican Party in order to put a suitable candidate up against President Obama. This way if they are fed-up with Obama’s leadership and yet frustrated with the shabby array of candidates the Republicans have chosen, perhaps by joining the Republican party, showing up at caucuses and demanding that their wants be addressed, the Republican party will find a candidate who represents the opinion of the 99% and their cause. This can also dispel the extreme right-wing influence of the Tea Party movement. They may still fail to win against the incumbent, Obama, but their voice and muscle will have been demonstrated more clearly.
I think that occupy wall st is an important and unifying force. I think that all those occupying have legitimate claims and I understand that they are all suffering. The problem i see with it is that the movement does not seem to offer a practical solution. The current american capitalist system is one that facilitates the wealthy in increasing their wealth but offers less help to the lower classes. Another problem is that through their occupation, they are hurting businesses in the area. There is a kosher restaurant that just opened over the summer and is struggling now to keep their doors open because of the barricades that have been set up in front of the store. The owner is understandably upset but his biggest complaint is that the occupiers are claiming to fight for jobs- he had 100 jobs in his store but due to the occupation, many jobs will be lost.
ReplyDeleteI think that it will definitely be a hot topic on the presidential agenda- how can it not be? it has gotten too big to be ignored to the extent that there have been occupations all over the US (and possibly overseas?). the american people are suffering and they are looking for someone to alleviate their burdens. the next president will probably be someone who can manage to create jobs for the poor without taking money away from the wealthy- or who ever can make the best pitch. as we saw from the polls, the most important topic right now to the american people is the economy. so the next president will be the man with the most compelling solution to the economic strife that the american people are living in. therefore occupy wall st will definitely be a major topic of discussion for the presidential nominees.
Today in class Dina made a great comment how if protesters really want to be effective they should contact their local public officials and speak to them directly about the issues. However once that is completed- how does the public or one see immediate results? Wouldn't a mass public protest be more effective in publicizing the issue to local and national government?
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to assume which approach would result in more government action and change, however it is commendable that even people who are not directly effected by capitolisim , debt or unemployment are coming together to protest an issue that affects millions of America nationwide.