alternatehistory.com

Occupy Wall Street

Some traced the movement to the Adbusters call for it while others say it was born more because of the lack of visibility of certain running officials. However, at the core of it, it was all because of the frustration and anger at the people. Since the Great Recession starting in 2010, the economic recovery has been slow and sluggish for the Aemricans. While the Canadians managed to bounce back quicker thanks to Prime Minister Jack Layton, the US was not so lucky. The Republicans were reluctant tp push for stimulus and kept rpessing supply side economics and hoping the tax cuts would magically be the solution. Resentment and anger grew slowly but surely over time. However, the rise of social media also changed the name of the game. Smaller protests have broken out before, but this... this was meant to be something bolder and new. They bided their time, letting the anger grow and manifest. It could not just be a mere explosion... it would be an ongoing firestorm. As such, social media grew abuzz and preparations were made.

And so in the Summer of 2014, Wall Street became flooded with a massive protest along other locales of the United States. A large cry united the various peoples.'
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"We are the 99%"

It was a reference to the massive income equality that was present within the system. On how 1% of the population held a massive bulk of the wealth disproportionate to the rest of the population. On how the various problems of banks and certain officials had failed them with the crashing economy and how the government failed in passing meaningful legislation to combat the problem. Additionally, scathing accusations and indictments were thrown at both parties for the corruption present, the lobbying and many more examples.

While initially loud and bombastic, it was also somewhat chaotic and outside a general sense of frustration, there was a seemingly lack of clear goals and meaningful direction in what change they wanted to see. And perhaps that the movement would've died down and splintered... if not for capturing the attention by various individuals who proceeded to influence the movement.

Chief among them was Senator Bernie Sanders, who brought the protest to his politicians and whenever he spoke. He pointed out the failures of the political system and to call for meaningful reform. For student loan forgiveness. For Medicare For All. For environmentalist policies that could also coincide with meaningful job growth and development. To break down the massive banks and corporations. Unsurprisingly, many of the movement would end up siding with Sanders although this would cause a division within the group, at least among the earlier folk who began in part because of supposed roots of anarchism within the Occupy movement (though as others noted, that the anarchist influences would've doomed the movement's potential in the long run because of the lack of large scale population support for it.) While some of his fellow politicians dismissed his ideas as pie in the sky fantasies, the people clamored. Furthermore, Sanders pointed to other nations and their successes and comparison to the failures within the United States.

How then could the United States even try and proclaim in being the best with their failures unaddressed, instead empty platitudes present? What message does that send?

Another prominent voice was more leninent toward the initial roots and that was Hunter S. Thompson. He became a form of support to the Occupy Movement and promoted his style of journalism amogn them and provided a different voice of fiery passion and commitment to it. But beyond that fire, he provided his experience and knowledge to give the movement some form of structure and continue on with their drive.

As June turned to July, the protests became more organized and their demands were coalescing into clear stances on healthcare, environmentalism, taxation, and various other factors that was a reflection of the lack of fairness and the faiure of the American system. Furthermore, with the year being one of elections, that framing was used. Many young current and potential politicians were invovled or referred to, noting that the their successes could only come with the power of the people and thus overcoming political chicanery with massive votes, especially within the primaries. It was a regimented force though one that did not go truly noticed by the media. After all, by the time of July, the initial wave of anger was dying down, but the mark was made.

The people were unhappy and they were letting others know. They did not have to put up with this. To be manipulated by powerful politicians backed up by greedy lobbyists, special interest groups, corrupt banksters and various other individuals they deemed a plague on the human collective unconscious. Of course, other politicians were not as happy and while some sympathized for the plight, others viewed them as troublemakers. Indeed, as more and more international attention was given to it and prominent figures were showing, the greater story was being played. It was the first sign of radicalism after decades of tepid waters.