The other one per cent are those with all the power who ruined an economy, corrupted a system and contributed to a poverty of life experience. That’s the rap from the Occupy Wall Street protestors who have moved en masse into the financial district of New York to let the authorities know they’ve had enough.
Some are even calling the Democrat’s Tea Party, an alternative riff on the extreme right movement in the United States that is pushing for smaller Government.
So how did all this start?
It started, as these things often do, with a grievance. Or multiple grievances. The US economy is a shadow of its former self, politics is worse than ever and there seems to be no hope of bipartisan resolve. Nobody’s working together and everybody else is pissed off. Activist magazine Adbusters put out the original call for something to be done in July.
“Our nation, our species and our world are in crisis. The US has an important role to play in the solution, but we can no longer afford to let corporate greed and corrupt politics set the policies if our nation.
We, the people of the United States of America, considering the crisis at hand, now reassert our sovereign control of our land.”
Check out this video for an interesting take:
And what are they doing to try and make that happen?
They’ve occupied Wall Street! Well, to be precise the streets and parks around it as police cordoned off the actual Wall Street. Rallies are now being held in 73 other cities around the world. Protest numbers aren’t anywhere near the 90,000 originally aimed for, but they’re working on it and momentum seems to grow every day. The protests began on September 17 with one clear goal: occupy Wall Street for two months, we’ll figure the rest out later.
Top Comments
I think this is all a bit too broad at the moment. However all movements take time to develop a true direction. This is the first distant rumbling of something that I think will go on for some time.
I think the reasons for the lack of focus are the same reasons for the protests. We've all watched the world economy crumble and have been helpless to do anything about it. The frustration of the protestors is coming across in their efforts to bring about a change.
We're looking at some very bright people here. 20 years ago this discussion would have been taking place in the back rooms of pubs or unversities, in libraries and parks. We wouldn't have seen them until they'd decided on their message and chosen a clear, attainable focus.
Technology has brought a lot more people into the fold. Unfortunately, that will also mean it will take more time for a movement to take shape. It has also brought a lot more attention from impatient detractors.
This is the discussion. The movement has still to come. Unfortunately, the 24 hour news cycle doesn't want to wait.
Anon, Please realise that the US does not have a program similar to HECS. There debt is similar to our bank or credit card debt HECS here also won't affect your ability to get a mortgage etc. It isn't a lifelong debt most of the time and that is the difference.