Sounding Off on Occupy Wall Street

This is the first Sounding Off post I have done since February’s Sounding Off on the Wisconsin Protests but this hot political issue I think is worthy of discussing.

I have to admit that I have not been paying much attention to the Wall Street protests until recently so I did not have much to say about them.

Last night, I started doing some more reading about the whole thing and though I'd offer my two cents worth on the whole issue.

The main problem with the protests is that I have not been able to define any clear cut goals. It's almost like they aren't protesting any specific policy or any specific event but it is a general protest against corporate greed. It is a leaderless movement, more a coalition of various groups of people with no explicit political agenda. It is almost like a left-wing tea party movement.

From what I have read, here are a few things that are being protested against:

Corporate greed.
Federal reserve banks.
Concern about lack of job prospects.
Abundance of tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations.
Corporate welfare.
Lack of support for trade unions.
Concern for the continuance of Medicare and Social Security.

Here are a few quotes I pulled up from my reading:

"[Occupy Wall Street is]...a group of activists who claim to stand against greed, corporate influence, gross social inequality and other disparities between rich and poor...The one thing we all have in common is that We Are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%......" New York Times, Oct 3, 2011

"Together we will voice our belief that the American dream will live again, that the American way is to help one another succeed. Our voice, our values, will be heard."
OccupyWallStreet.org

“Occupy Wall Street is a people powered movement for democracy that began in American on September 17 with an encampment in the financial district of New York City............we vow to end the monied corruption of our democracy...join us!"
Ad Busters Occupy Wall Street site

Here are some articles and websites where you can find out more about the “movement.”

New York Times article on Occupy Wall Street
OccupyWallStreet.org
Occupy Wall Street Wiki article
AdBusters Occupy Wall Street site

So, as I said, the “movement” has its problems, the biggest being no specific legislative or political agenda. However, that being said, from what I do understand about the protests, I support them 100%. I agree that politics in this country has been controlled for too long by the upper 1% of society and that needs to change.

It is time for the government of this country to recognize that all of this nation’s citizens are a special interest, not just the wealthy.

As I read more about this “movement” I will most likely post some more articles about it.