I am conflicted about the Occupy Wall Street movement.
I can understand the frustration that many feel when they think about our current political system. Â I feel that pursuit of power and lack of willingness to serve is not connected with any political party. Â It is a part of who we are as people. Â So, I get the idea that “Just vote them out,” only replaces one problem with another. Â We are almost always in campaign mode and the problems of our country and world require more focus than they receive.
I can also understand the frustration of those who look at the ways the OWS movement is getting in the way of the commerce of the regular working class people they are claiming to represent. Â The excesses, the question of whether it will ever really amount to anything. Â Who are the 99%, do they really represent me, and what is it that they would suggest that is better?
This certainly isn’t the first to handle that dilemma, but I like it and wanted to pass it along. Â Thoughts?
Candice Foldenauer said...
1Nice article. I really like the practical steps a lot. I’m kind of annoyed/ sad that these types of discussions had to come out of OWS. I wish they were part of daily discussion anyway. A great thing that has come out of this recession to me is that many people feel more generous and willing to evaluate their consumer choices.
Also, and I’d love a second opinion Jim, I just don’t feel like the majority people who say they are representing the 99% are actually even part of the 99%. In certain circumstances, especially America, I feel like the protesters come off like rich kids throwing a tantrum in the supermarket when in many other places and countries the protestors really have something to complain about. For example, college kids in our community complaining- sure you have a ton of student loans, but to be in the small percentage of people in the world receiving higher education is an enormous privilege in and of itself.
11/14/11 12:25 PM | Comment Link
said...
2Hey Candice… I partially agree with you on this. It depends on which 99% you are talking about.
I would say that many of the OWS protestors fit your category of “rich kids…” but I have heard from many who don’t. This gets to my curiosity about what will come of this ultimately. There is a good gallup poll here
I like your macro focus on world problems, and I agree that complaining about the cost of higher education can seem a bit entitled to much of the world.
But I do see the frustration of those who aren’t protesting student loan amounts, but rather a feeling a dread that the institutions themselves are fundamentally flawed, so voting someone else into that space won’t help. Who see the flaws in our economic system but also who appreciate their isn’t a better one out there.
So I guess that makes me the 47% of people who get why people are angry and yet aren’t sure the OWS movement will resolve the problem.
I am the 47%! 🙂
12/12/11 7:59 AM | Comment Link