Just so I can say that i have put my two cents in I am going to say a little bit about Occupy Wall Street. Before I start I should say that I don’t know if I have a super cohesive argument or position to take on the whole thing. Still, I will start this post off with full disclosure: I completely support the protesters and their cause. What is more, I admire what they are doing and I wish I had the guts to be out there doing my part.
Other than that quick statement of disclosure I am going to use the words of others to communicate my thoughts today.
First, let’s have a look at some of the statistics on the state of we are in.
Yeah, it doesn’t look very good to me either. If you are interested in a some more facts and statistics visit “Here’s what the wall street protesters are so angry about”, I found it particularly insightful.
Next I will direct you to a couple pictures that have been circulating the web over the past week or so. You have doubtless already seen them but I think that they are still relevant to this post.
What troubles me about the picture on the right is that it completely ignores the complexities of privilege and assumes that everyone has the same ability to “succeed” in our country. This is simply not the case today and I for one can attest to the fact that finding money for college is hard. My senior year in college I was financially independent, worked four jobs, had two academic grants, a half-tuition scholarship and still had to take out loans for my tuition. (If I really wanted to show this person up I would also mention that I graduated with a 3.88 GPA and got into a Masters program at Columbia University, but I won’t…) My point is that not everyone can make it today and even those of us who work out asses off often cannot make it without a little assistance (which, I would argue isn’t too much to ask). So, I would like to send a huge shout out to Cylinsier for your wonderful depiction of what it feels like to be a college student in the 99%.
Next, I would like to direct you to some of the supporters of the Occupy Wall Street movement, just to prove that it isn’t just a bunch of pot-smoking hippies with no clue what they’re talking about. The New Yorker put out this article on Monday citing the top ten unlikely supporters of the movement. In a recent Time interview, George Clooney extended his support for the movement (even saying that he supports higher tax rates for the rich). MomsRising, a group working for family rights in the U.S. supports the movement (sign their open letter by clicking on the link, it is easy and you don’t actually have to be a mom!). Colleges across the US are becoming occupied and there is even a group of occupied writers who are composing original works just for the occasion. Lastly, the guy who took the following picture is a supporter of Occupy Wall Street (oh yeah, and he works there and he is not crazy… I know because I talked to him).
I am the 99% and I am not ashamed to admit it because I did nothing to end up here. Neither did anyone else. The system we have is not sustainable and I dare say that it is not helping anyone. I apologize for the length and rant-like format of this post; if I were a better graduate student I would have drawn some great parallels to Marx and Weber but I am tired and I don’t want to do that right now. Instead I will leave you with the words of Lemony Snicket (one of my favorite young adult authors).
99 percent is a very large percentage. For instance, easily 99 percent of people want a roof over their heads, food on their tables, and the occasional slice of cake for dessert. Surely an arrangement can be made with that niggling 1 percent who disagree.
Check out all 13 of his unfortunate observations here.
That’s all I’ve got for now, back to making good use of my loans.
very cool and informative blog….hope you are well…
Great post, and great writing. I agree with your point about the college student in the picture on the right. While I’m happy she (or he) is currently debt free, it’s an incredibly ignorant point of view considering what is going on in the world.
I’m a fellow college student, I know how it goes!
Keep it up!
http://occupybillingsmt.org/
Great post, Adri! Hope you’re doing well!
– Sarah Baggs
Adri you rock!!! Not just because your my niece, but because you are a loving soul who considers all, and loves all! You are a true example of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I love You!
Aunt, E
Adri! The first response picture (the left one, in the juxtaposing images) totally rocked my world when I first saw it, because it focused on the broken aspects of society that can lead some to privilege, but not others. Some individuals will claim their successes as the direct result of their hard work, but often discount the fact that we live in a society where advantages are given based on factors beyond our control. Physical, mental, familial support, etc… I found that picture from an internet forum called “reddit.com,” written by one of the users there. They’ve been covering multiple facets of the OWS movement, you should check it out!
❤ Danni.
Danni, I actually saw the picture on your blog… but I will totally check out that other site you suggested.
Totally following this blog now. And this was such a good posting on the OWS movement. Thanks for the words.
Awesome! I am following you too. I didn’t know you blogged.
Adri,
Good to seeing you put your two cents in….more people should be involved with at least attempting to use some degree of rational or critical thinking. Unfortunately, many will watch from the sidelines and not voice their opinion.
I do not share your idealistic perspective on OWS, the causes for why these protests are the edgy theme of the current economic environment, or the philosophical analysis as to what the real crisis actually is. I’m sure you’re aware that its complicated. But there are some simply truths to extracted: many people are upset that business are afforded advantages that they as citizens do not have access to. People are disenfranchised due to their lack of economic opportunity right now. And finally, I think we can agree, the only people who can change anything will be Congress, the representatives of the people, including the protestors.
There is a reason why we became the nation we are today. It was not based on some embraced Marxism (every single country formerly Communist has either failed or is failing, even China has essentially deconstructed its regulatory controls). It was not based on re-distribution (Demanding the wealth from those who’ve earned it just because you’re dissatisfied on a whim with the status quo is not pragmatic nor sustainable). Finally, it cannot hope to survive if we unjustly penalize those who use an opportunistic environment to succeed to their advantage. In short, the protestors should stop demanding Wall Street be held accountable. They are declaring war on the fundamentals of economics. And ultimately, they will lose.
I would liken OWS demands when playing Monopoly. Ever remember just losing all the good high-value properties to a single player? Eventually, the game would be won by the player who could accrue the monopolistic advantage in the end. Simple game-theory states others’ choices (read “roll of die”) dictate largely how we win or lose. Do we penalize that lead player just because he has all the best valued properties to tax the other players as they land on his estates? Or do we change the rules of the game to disallow such disproportionality? I must say, the latter is what we ought to do. Wall Street is not the culprit, Adri. Our Congress is the culprit and they are the only ones who can change the rules. But OWS is targeting Wall Street, bankers, and corporations, the very wheels of opportunity they claim they want a shot at.
To OWS and their supporters, I would tell them, change your Congress and you will have your change. Stop vilifying those who make millions. Believe or not, their is a reason why businesses wave that money in front of them. Those of OWS, when you’re all CEO’s someday, you too will have to choose between corporations willing to pay for your experience or business prowess with top dollar bonuses, with stock options, and whatever other sweeteners to get you to sign on. Its called business. Capitalism. Free-markets. So many Americans just want handouts or succumb to embracing zero-sum theory. There will always be poor people. Policies must change. Not the re-appropriation of wealth. I’m all for opportunity for everyone. But you don’t get there protesting in a park. You get there by voting Congress out of office and putting someone in there who will be held accountable for your change.
Having said that, I DO agree with you that there are truly things to be fixed. Corporations do not need tax loopholes. Corporations do not need secret meetings with my representatives. CEO’s need to be held to higher standards of conduct when they flout the law. They both need to focus on Main Street, not DC.
I think I will need to start a blog….
Very proud you are where you are going. Keep staying involved. Keep thinking. Hope you are well.
Troy