The Occupy movement seemed to start out strong. Over in New York, it had a solid mission statement and passionate people, the key to any productive protest. I understood what they argued for, and thought, “Yeah, OK, I can see what they’re upset about.”
And then the media got a hold of it, as did the bandwagon hoppers. That’s about when I saw the Whirling Dervish of the Occupy movement.@@I really don’t really understand the reference but: http://www.whirlingdervishes.org/@@
The movement turned into the next “cool” thing. I think that people saw the passion and drive of the first Occupiers over at Wall Street and thought, “Hey, if I go over there and do what they’re doing, maybe I could be as passionate as them.” Wrong. Others thought, “My cause needs that much attention too, so I’ll just head over and get my signs in the way,” which just confused viewers even more.
So congratulations, America. You have messed it up. You took a thing that was really trying to make a difference and made it into your own banana stand.@@wat@@ @@Arrested Development reference@@
I don’t think anything can be done anymore. I think that the idea has gotten so muddled up that there cannot be any recovery. The Occupy movement has turned into more of a fad than anything, leading the rest of the public to see occupiers as second graders petitioning to get longer lunch periods.@@Amen, brother@@
Also, I am one person in the “99 percent,” but I don’t want to be associated with those who have taken my percent point and made it their own. I don’t believe in what you’re doing, and mostly, I don’t see any actual progress in it. Stop thinking that everyone in America wants to join your ambiguous cause, because not everyone does. Some of us believe that hard work and success are directly linked. I am not denying that many times our economic situation is corrupt and unfair, but it’s a fact of life in this country right now.
The only thing we can really do, as the protest is so unorganized, is hang the sense of it and keep trucking. I believe in a person setting him or herself up for success by a life of hard work through school, internships and eventually a job. And if you would stop hating the corporations so much, you would see that they provide a substantial amount of jobs for Americans. In Eric Schlosser’s book “Fast Food Nation,” @@http://www.amazon.com/Fast-Food-Nation-Dark-All-American/dp/0060938455@@ Schlosser says that nearly one in eight people in America has worked for McDonald’s at one time. Sounds like they are helping to spread the wealth, if even a little bit.
So what is it that you’re fighting? The lack of heavy taxes against the 1 percent? Are you against the corporation’s lobbyists? Are you against corporations in general? How about capitalism? Police brutality? Maybe the unfair treatment of animals?
It seems like people engaging in this movement are against everything.
My solution is to stop what you’re doing. Get out of your campsites and start an organized national movement where you know what you’re fighting — and you know how to do it. We have people sitting around at Millrace Park doing nothing but enjoying the ride. I’ve seen groups of Occupiers walking out of McDonald’s with three or four signs facing the street — not exactly the biggest statement.
You want change? You want to really make an impact on these corporations? Move out. Occupy Canada, or maybe occupy North Korea. Show the corporations and the government that they need you more than they know. You think they are walking all over you? Show them that the 99 percent is more than just a bunch of hippie campers that can be smashed by a rolled-up newspaper. Be a recognized force and shout with one collective voice that no corporation, no police force and no government can push aside.
Outside of that, the only other solution is to get back to work. By not working, you’re giving more money back to the 1 percent who you clearly despise. Work hard, work efficiently and take whatever job comes your way. The way to make it in this country is by determination. Start with a job you can get, move on to higher and higher positions, and next thing you know the wealth is being spread. No, not from a handout, but by hard work.
Pick one method and follow it. Only then will any change happen. The fact that people see this movement in so many different lights proves my point that there isn’t one clear idea, but rather multiple unclear ideas that people can take in multiple ways. I wish you luck in finding your own.