An awakening. Thats how I see the Occupy Wall Street movement and its birthing of similar protests around the world, including Vancouver. Can it be possible that large chunks of the population didnt know or refused to believe that multinational corporations, not democratically elected politicians rule the world. Its not the way our society is supposed to work, but I thought it was a given. I may want to believe that when I exercise my franchise, it has meaning and a modicum of influence. But I still end up feeling powerless.
If they didnt already know, many Americans are now keenly aware that corporations run the globe with unfettered freedom, but it probably didnt personally hit home until the financial meltdown in 2008 that flattened the United States. Then again, every empire must collapse at some point.
But the money madness is spreading elsewhere and Im still trying to figure out why the financial psychopaths from Wall Street arent behind bars for the frauds theyve committed (kind of like why nobody who designed and built leaky condos in B.C. has seen the inside of a prison cell or at least paid a whopping fine).
Family obligations prevented me from attending Occupy Vancouver on Saturday but Im grateful so many others did. We may not be in the sorry state the U.S. is, but lets not get too smug. I need only glance around my office building and see more and more empty desks to know were not that far removed from what is happening to our neighbours. In the last three years at the Courier, which is already a small operation, 12 people have been laid off, seven in the last few months. I have two co-workers whose partners remain unemployed. Im lucky. My husband and I both work, though his work is up and down. I have benefits. He doesnt and hasnt had a raise in five years. Were not interested in buying more stuffonly what we need.
As good as my life is compared to many others, that doesnt mean certain rules and traditions of how business and politics function should continue unchallenged.
I find the OWS movement exciting, but I wonder how long it can go on and if any lasting regulatory change will come from it. But I try to remember that every great movement takes time to foment change.
Headlines such as A protest in search of a cause are deliberately insulting. That was in the Vancouver Sun last week. Such headlines make it sound as if everyone at the protest is daft. Google OWS participant Chris Hedges for enlightenment. (Or watch him take down Kevin OLeary during a CBC TV interview he gave about the protest. Brilliant.) Hedges calls the movement a fight for our lives. And Hedges is no alarmist.
Or just ask a regular guy like David C. Jones. He spent five hours at the Occupy Vancouver protest on Saturday meeting families, seniors and radicals alike. He described the crowd as passionate and excited. He felt as if he were part of something important. Jones, an actor, writer, improviser, director and teacher, attended the protest out of concern, mainly for young people.
Apathy has allowed governments and business to take advantage. We need to re-inspire people, especially youth to wake up to what is going on, he says. I see more and more young people growing up in a world of manipulation. Politicians who are supposed to be held accountable to the people they govern are more secretive. I miss seeing the media interview people in the hallways of the House of Commons. Now it is pre-screened questions only. TV news and print used to be unbiased or at least pretended to be and now they are trying to form opinion and manipulate the viewer. I see these kids have to work longer and harder to earn less and have fewer opportunities.
Like me, Jones believes the protests are as valid in Canada as on Wall Street.
It is demonstrating to our Prime Ministerdon't think you can just continue dismantling regulations and protections in the name of cutting red tape. Don't think you can screw with the future of health care, education and the environment in the name of jobs. See us here and know we know what it means to be Canadian and what is important to us.
Back in New York, the words of actor Mark Ruffalo struck a nerve. He wants to know, like all of us who play by the rules, if we live in a world of laws anymore. And contrary to mainstream media, the OWS movement isnt anti-capitalist and transcends political ideologies, he says.
The top [one per cent] is engaged in corporate welfare while the rest of us are dealing in capitalism, he told an independent reporter down on Wall Street. Its not that theyre rich, its that theyre gaming the system. They game the regulatory process, they game the politicians and theyve gamed the system so badly you cant have competition anymore.
The world is getting played. And I dont know one person whos OK with that. Lets be gladno, relieved people are willing to take the time to protest.
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After I wrote this column, I heard back from my friend Lori, a born and raised New Yorker with a masters degree in conservation biology who I knew would participate in the protest. She had much to say about whats going on. Here is a Q&A I had with her via email.
Q: What made you join the Occupy Wall Street protests?
A: The criminals on Wall St (and they are criminals) got away with taking down the world economy and not a single one of them has been held accountable. b) I have been back in the country for more than two years now and never before have I NOT been able to reach goals. This is a first for me. When I arrived back [from time in Australia] I was optimistic and wasn't going to let the economy get in my way. But like millions of others of Americans, I've been thwarted in my efforts to move forward and have remained either unemployed or underemployed.
Q: How many days have you been down there?
A: I went to the first day, which was quite small (a couple of hundred people) and as many cops! I would never have predicted based on that day, what OWS would turn into! I also went to the large demonstration - 10-20,000 people - a couple of weeks ago that gained widespread media coverage. It was one of the most inspirational events I've ever participated in. There were people from all walks of life and all ages. My favorite signs: "Arab Spring, European Summer, American Fall" and an old couple who held the sign, "We Want the Change We Voted For."
Q: What is the mood of the crowd?
A: People feel a great deal of solidarity. The mood is strong and forthright. People know they are on the right side of history with this movement.
Q: Can you describe the crowd in terms of backgrounds, employment, knowledge of the issues etc?
A: As I said, ages range from parents with their young children, teens, lots of college students under mountains of student debt (they are probably the majority), middle-aged and older folks. The people camping out in Zuccotti Park are mainly 20s-30s I would say.
Q: How dirty is it getting?
A: The "dirty" claims are ridiculous. The park is probably cleaner than most of the rest of the city. As one commenter on WNYC said, he sees rats in the subway every day!
Q: Do you think these protests are just a blip on the radar screen or a movement that will force real change?
A: I believe this is a serious movement that will eventually force change but it will take time and perhaps more intense protests, including civil disobedience with large scale arrests (in the thousands).
Q: A headline in a paper here reads: "A protest in search of a cause." What do you think about that?
A: This is total rubbish. As a New York Times editorial said recently that it is not the job of the protesters to come up with solutions to the country's problems. That is the job of our leaders, who apparently are completely unable to lead. As far as the protest being in search of a cause, it's really very simple in the near term. People want those who tanked the world economy to be held accountable and they want real job-creating solutions for the U.S.
Q: How long do you think the protest will last?
A: Hard to say. The brutal New York winters may pose a problem. But at a minimum, I think they'll occupy Zuccotti Park for at least another couple of months.
Q: What is NOT good about the crowd?
A: I'll get some flack for saying this but I always feel the hard core "hippie" contingent doesn't help progressive causes - the blue and purple hair, all over body tattoos, freak dancing ;0), etc. These folks do not speak to "mainstream" America and I think they put many people off the message in that respect.
Q: Are you troubled by criticisms that there are some in the crowd who are simply there to protest?
A: NO! To quote the New York Times, "It's about time and what took so long." Well, at least the "what took so long part." The American people have finally woken up and many of us are energized and encouraged by the simple fact that people are finally using their voices to express their discontent. People who until now, have been silent.
Q: What is the end game? What do you think can truly be accomplished? It seems the massive amount of bureaucracy in the U.S. to change anything is insurmountable?
A: You're right about the bureaucracy. With the amount of corporate cash that floods our political system, Wall St. and the U.S. government are really one and the same. This makes it difficult to see how we'll change the system but at least we've made a start. I do believe the 99% will prevail if we persist and we will get to a point where the powers that be will realize they have to listen to and serve the middle class and poor people of this country. Whether that's by campaign finance reform, adoption of a true universal healthcare system (i.e., Medicare for All), term limits, viable alternative political parties or all of the above, I don't know. But the change we seek will happen. I believe.
twitter: @ HughesFiona
