In many circles, the NBT (Next Big Thing) is the Occupy Movement. It started as the Occupy Wall Street(OWS) protest, and has subsequently spread across this country, and ultimately on to many cities around the world. I will devote the space in today’s post to taking a few minutes to explore the phenomenon that has garnered an abundance of headlines, yet, managed to defy being defined in clear and concise terms.
Occupy is organic; each day it continues to grow and evolve. It has managed to puzzle pundits, politicians, and prognosticators, alike. Most conventional wisdom standard bearers profess the movement has failed to distinguish itself as having formal goals, or even a discernible message. In response to this suggestion:
- Washington Post opinion writer Katrina vanden Heuval said at this time, the primary goal of the movement is to grow in size.
- One member of the New York City General Assembly insisted OWS will not issue demands, because “demands are for terrorists and that is not who we are.”
By early October, 2011, similar demonstrations were either currently unfolding, or had been held in 70 major cities, and over 600 United States
In no sense should this be surprising, since fallout from the recession which began in United States in December, 2007, and lasted until June/July, 2009, eventually spread to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and of course, South America. Even though the recession ended in the United States
Add in the debt crisis that plagues Greece and other European nations, and it’s relatively easy to see how/why the economic malaise that is strangling any potential for vibrancy in the United States economy has gone globally viral. Arguably these protests were also inspired, at least to some degree by the events of the Arab Spring, which is euphamistic terminology for a series of protests in the Middle East that include the following countries:
- Clashes along the border of
As I noted earlier, a number of politicians have been puzzled; left to figure just what to think about the Occupy Movement. GOP frontrunner Herman Cain went on record in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, saying, “I don’t have the facts to back this up, but I believe these demonstrations are planned and orchestrated to distract from the failed policies of the Obama Administration.” After testing this warm-up line, he went on to suggest, if you’re not rich, “Blame yourself.” In keeping with what has become Mr. Cain’s propensity to be forced to walk back wacky pronouncements, he later recast his criticism by saying, the Occupy protesters should be “Standing in front of the White House.”
Other Republican Presidential candidates have also altered, toned down, made an about-face, or at-least a three-quarter turn on the subject of Occupy. This sort of recalibration is consistent with a number of them, and their original criticism of the Occupy protesters. Democrats(Big D; the Political Party) have been somewhat less critical, but no less uncertain what to make of the buzz associated with this movement.
Indeed, I think Democrats collectively are adrift, still trying to determine what to make of Occupy, while the GOP seems more apt to see the protesters as trying to establish a political alter ego to the Tea Party Movement, and therefore, opposed to them and their efforts. President Obama has said he believes the movement reflects widespread frustration with the state of the country’s financial system. While he has not exactly fashioned and extended a ringing endorsement to the effort, he has appeared to make a modest effort to align the actions of the movement with what he perceives as the interests of the country.
For a movement that has gained so much notoriety worldwide, but especially throughout the United States
Despite misgivings by its critics, organizers envisioned a peaceful occupation of Wall Street aimed at protesting and addressing corporate influence on democracy, a growing wealth disparity, and the absence of legal repercussions following the global financial crisis; especially those aspects of it which emanated from Wall Street. Proposed in mid-July, the movement gained a foothold in the American psyche by early fall.
A single simple demand served at the catalyst for jump starting OWS; “a presidential commission to separate money from politics. Activists from a second group, Anonymous, encouraged its followers to participate in the protest march. In do so they also asked followers to “Flood lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades, and ‘occupy Wall Street,’” which became the sobriquet of the movement.
It is too early to tell how successful OWS will become. It is not known yet whether the movement will evolve into one with a litany, or even a list of more defined goals. We have no idea whether the activists of the American Fall will maintain their activity steadfastly throughout the coming “winter of their discontent.” We certainly have no idea whether the erstwhile leaderless movement will morph into some politically effective change mechanism that may affect the outcome of the 2012 Presidential Election.
So what is the answer to the QOTD (Question of the Day), “Occupy: What’s That About?” At this point, the answer is even less clear than mud. There is much speculation, but quoth the Raven; I mean Rick Perry, such conjecture is “All hat and no cattle.”
I’m done; holla back!
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