Protestors and supporters are angry because of how substantial of a role some large corporations and their contributions play in the election process. After the election of President Barack Obama, there was a feeling amongst the American people that he would be the one to finally bring about the long overdue reformation and change to this dying economy. However after three years of being in office and very minimal to no signs of economic recovery, Americans lost their hope that his presidency would result in change. Bradley Schiller of the Los Angeles Times wrote:
Our frustrations are more the product of Washington than Wall Street. We have been promised a lot and received little. Obama (who made millions in book royalties the last few years) sowed the seeds of disillusionment when he overpromised what his February 2009 stimulus package could deliver. A series of policy failures and political deadlocks has left people feeling disenfranchised and forgotten. Calling out millionaires and billionaires as the culprits in this economic saga is disingenuous and ultimately self-defeating. Those 1 percenters are not an avaricious "them" but in reality the most entrepreneurial of "us." If we had more of them and fewer grandstanding politicians, we would all be better off. (Schiller)
In an ABC News exclusive interview, President Obama acknowledges the Occupy Movement’s concerns and states his stance on the matter.
I understand the frustrations being expressed in those [Occupy Wall Street] protests. In some ways, they’re not that different from some of the protests that we saw coming from the Tea Party. Both on the left and the right, I think people feel separated from their government. They feel that their institutions aren’t looking out for them. The most important thing we can do right now is those of us in leadership letting people know that we understand their struggles and we are on their side, and that we want to set up a system in which hard work, responsibility, doing what you’re supposed to do, is rewarded. And that people who are irresponsible, who are reckless, and who don’t feel a sense of obligation to their communities and their companies and their workers that those folks aren’t rewarded. (Dwyer)
While President Obama lends his support, prospective 2012 republican Presidential candidate Michelle Bachman is not as receptive to the movements’ cause stating:
A vocal minority called Occupy Wall Street believes that the problem we face is capitalism or free markets. It’s not. The problem is government doing what both the constitution and decent morality prohibit, that is cronyism capitalism, or forcefully taking your money for the purpose of paying off a politician’s political friends. For your sake and your future, America, and Occupy Wall Street in particular, needs to wake up and stop blaming job creators for the failures created by selfish politicians who wink at their political donors. (Goldman)
Although polls that have been conducted have indicated support for the protests by a large number of Americans, it still has yet to convince the major players that make up neither the 1% nor the entire 99% for that matter. Even though the amount of media attention that has focused on these protests has brought a lot of support, it has also harnessed many criticisms.
While the protestors have been gaining momentum, the movement itself has been accused of causing more problems than it is solving. There are many problems with the protests that outweigh any of the proposed advantages. At the protest locations, crime and health concerns have run rampant and have also become sites of unwanted violence and sexual assaults. It has also become a major hive for homeless people who congregate at the locations with the hopes of receiving food and a place to sleep. One of the most distressing problems of the Occupy Movement is the lack of an actual cohesive objective to which they can rally under. The Occupy Movement will not affect anything until they form a clear long-term goal. There is no clear goal or future (for that matter) to the movement, which is an important aspect of any protest. Its organizers lack the leadership to actually bring about change and they have no alternatives to solving the issues being vocalized; and thus far the movement has no demands. It is extremely disorganized and lacks any actual direction in which to turn. While they continue to simply occupy locations, they are costing many cities millions of dollars. According to a survey by the Associated Press, “During the first two months of the nationwide Occupy protests, the movement that is demanding more out of the wealthiest Americans cost local taxpayers at least $13 million in police overtime and other municipal services” (Barr). This money could have gone towards creating more jobs and preventing foreclosures. By merely occupying a location, the protests have little to no effect. The movement is unfortunately mishandling an opportunity to create long lasting change in this country. The growing disparity between the rich and the poor will subsequently lead to America losing its grasp as one of the world powers. Movements like Occupy Wall Street are not suggesting solutions because without a clear, central message, the movement will always be perceived as a protest for the sake of protest. Hopefully, from correctly addressing these criticisms, the Occupy Protest will have a fortunate outcome.
Both sides strive for a better economy and equal rights so why is it so hard to reach a conclusion. One would think that by having similar goals in mind would bring about a solution but unfortunately that is not the case. The problem is still at large because both sides have yet to come together and actually propose ways in order to attain economic equality. Both sides need each other in order for this nation to move forward and prosper. The 99% need the 1% just as much as the 1% needs the 99%. Like a symbiotic relationship, both sides depend on each other for survival. However, both sides do not realize this. Imagine what could happen if both parties addressed their concerns with one another, rather than just voicing their opinions behind a cardboard sign or a big corporate desk. Everyone is “talking” yet no one is actually “doing”. Which is exactly why no change has come into effect as of yet. If both parties could send key representatives or leaders to meet with one another only then could we see this stalemate ending. But yet again, that is another problem that both sides have: no leader. Who actually represents the Occupy Movement or Wall Street for that matter? Because you can’t have millions of protestors meeting with various wall street executives. No change will ever come out of that. People need to have a representative that they can rally behind. The solution to end this protest and to bring about an equal society is through cooperation with representation. The representatives from both sides need to cooperate and communicate the problems of their respective sides. There needs to be a policy change that both sides can agree upon. A big problem is that corporations do not create jobs anymore because they send them overseas in order to make higher profits for themselves. So basically, the 1% are creating jobs just for the 1%. But looking at the big picture, this is hurting the economy because the 99% don’t have the income in order to pay for services provided by corporations because all the jobs are overseas. This is one reason (out of many) as to why both sides heavily depend on one another for survival. So maybe one of the policy changes could be no more sending jobs overseas and rather keeping the jobs here in the U.S. There are many problems on both sides that could be solved if they got together and formulated a plan in order to bring back social and economic growth. The solution is coming together as a complete 100%. A nation divided is no nation at all.
Regardless of the issues at hand, however, the Occupy Wall Street protests may well be the start of a new era in America. If not that then it will definitely have a spot in history along with the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights Movements. It has raised public consciousness so much so that the nations’ focus has shifted. But America will not see this shift happen until the 99% and 1% call a treaty on this class warfare and become one. Only as a complete 100%, can the American social and economic dream be re-attained.
Works Cited
Schiller, Bradley. "What’s so awful about the 1%?” Los Angeles Times 4 Dec. 2011, Los
Angeles Times, ProQuest. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.
Dwyer, Devin. "Obama: Occupy Wall Street ‘Not That Different’ from Tea Party Protests,"
www.abcnews.go.com, Oct. 18, 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.
Goldman, Russell. "Bachmann Targets Occupy Wall Street, Warns of U.S. Becoming Banana
Republic," abcnews.go.com, Nov. 3, 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.
Barr, Meghan. “Occupy Protests Cost Cities At Least $13M”
www.time.com, Nov. 23, 2011. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.
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