Occupy Wall Street: What's Next?

Since Sept 17th, a group of concerned citizens have been "occupying" Zuccotti Park in New York City's downtown, a block from the American Stock Exchange, in a form of protest and civil disobedience.  What started as a few hundred has now swelled to thousands.  Everyday more and more people join them.  Labor unions across the country are coming out in support of their efforts and the world is beginning to take notice.  Furthermore, they have inspired similar protests in major cities across the country.  

Protesters have been camped out in Zuccotti Park in NYC since Sept 17th.

Casual observers are often heard asking "what are they protesting?".  The answer is, a lot of things.  Occupy Wall Street is a visual, audible, and qualitative representation of the frustration that has been building among America's lower and middle income communities.  They are sick of corporate greed.  They are sick of a racist justice system that executed Troy Davis right before our eyes.  They want us out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya and don't want us invading Pakistan.  They're educated but can't find jobs.  They're are up to their chins in student loan debt and have no idea how they are going to pay it.  They can't afford to get an education.  Some are anarchists.  Some are homeless.  They are aware of the United States history of shady, backhanded, foreign relations, and want it to stop.  They are tired of corporations ruining the environment.  They are tired of politicians looking out for their wealthy donors rather then the people who elected them.  They are tired of our governments broken promises.  Just to name a few things.

The question I keep asking myself is, what is this going the change?  At the end of the day, these past few weeks have been business as usual in the business world.  In fact, to the Dagny Taggart-esque leaders of many of these banks and corporations, their life purpose is to make a profit, at any cost, and they see nothing wrong with that.  These protests mean nothing to them.  Over the next year they'll donate countless dollars to the candidates who they know will have their back in 2012.   We're powerless, right?  Wrong.

The reason why I formed the Aardvark Movement was because I still believe in the political process and democracy as a means to enact change.  Yes, the system may have problems, but I believe it is better to fix it, rather then eliminate it.  But, the key to a healthy democracy is participation.  As the 99 percent we have forgotten the most basic institution that set the trend for the rest of the world.  The vote.  The lower you get in income, the lower the voter participation, the less government looks out for your interests.  If you're sick of both Republicans and Democrats, vote for a third party.  If you don't like any of the candidates, write in a candidate, such as Mickey Mouse.  Run for office yourself.  Just make sure you participate and make sure you educate yourself.   

I recently came upon a list of demands by a former marine and current Occupy Wall Street protester, Ward Reilly.  They were as follows..

• Tax the rich and corporations
• End the wars, bring troops home, cut military spending
• Protect the social safety net, strengthen social security and improved medicare for all
• End corporate welfare for oil companies of other big business interests
• Transition to a clean energy economy, reverse environment degradation
• Protect workers rights, including collective bargaining, create jobs, and raise wages
• Get money out of politics

It sounds like a platform for a Green Party candidate.  Which is my point exactly.  As frustrated as you may be with the way politics have gone in this country for the last 40 or so years, you still need them to enact change.  If your child is misbehaving do you abandon them?  No, you do what you can to help them improve and that is what must be done in the government today.  We must, in mass, tell our politicians what we want and then we must hold them accountable for their actions, and then reward or punish them at the polls. 

This is not a suggestion but a plea for the supporters and participants in Occupy Wall Street to title their next chapter, "Meaningful Action".  If you are not part of the top one percent you have two forms of power.  Your vote and your economic buying power.  Stop supporting these corporations that you find to be so greedy.  Find out every product they make, and don't buy them.  Tell your friends not to buy them.  Let them know that they've lost your business.  And then, get your ass to the polls.  You say that this country is a two party system?  Well change that. 

I too am a product of my generation.  We are the generation that wants change immediately, instant gratification.  Remember, the American Civil Rights Movement took 20 years of blood, sweat, and tears before any meaningful change was enacted.  The Indian Independence Movement half a century.  This is going to be a long battle. 

The organization is improving.  What started as a few hundred people wandering aimlessly among baby trees and tall buildings has now expanded to a headquarters for civil disobedience.  There are radio stations broadcasting from the site, an information booth, a mobile command center, and a library.  The website is fully functional with a calender of events and daily updates on what's happening.  The twitter account is up to 36,000 followers.  Everyday they are improving their ability to influence people.  

The Occupy Wall Street protests can be a catalyst for change in this country, but only if it is done right.  Chanting in the street will only get you so far.  Their voices are beginning to serve the purpose of getting the world's attention.  Now they must push for meaningful action in the form of political participation.  I am not sure if the Occupy Wall Streeters grasp how much support they really have, but I hope they do.  Many can't join them because they are enslaved by jobs, mortgages, student loans, financial limitations, and distance, among other things.  Some are just not the protesting type, but still supporters.  In many cases it is a subtle support, such as being appalled by the pepper spraying of four defenseless, non-threatening women.  Regardless, the Occupy Wall Streeters are a tangible representation of intangible sentiments that swirl in the hearts of millions of Americans.  Their demonstrations are now getting worldwide press coverage in the mainstream media.  The stage is yours.  The spotlight beams down from above upon you.  So, what's next?

-Kicy M, The Aardvark Movement