Archive: Opinions

The recent removal of tents and supporting infrastructure along with the arrests of the Occupy Protesters has brought to a close an important chapter of Civil Disobedience in America.  The men and women who began their protest with a handful of disenfranchise youth saw their ranks swell to the hundreds of thousands across the country as Occupy protests spread to state capitols, cities, and college campuses. 

We are a proud nation that made the act of civil disobedience into an action plan for political reform. From the Boston Tea Party in 1773 to the Anti-Slavery Movement of the mid 19th century and throughout the many causes in the 20th century, the Occupy Movement came to life like so many protest movements in our nation’s history.  Ordinary men and women felt that no one in power recognized the economic and social plight that they have been forced to endure through no fault of their own.   Through the actions of 1% in the financial markets, 99% had to endure the consequences of the Great Recession.

For ten weeks, Americans from all walks of life felt a real kinship with the protesters.  Citizens from the working class, union members, airline pilots, professionals, and academics joined the movement in solidarity.   The points they made were valid:  why did those who caused the financial disaster not have to pay for the damages they caused with their reckless investing schemes, and why have these same individuals not been charged with any crime. 

These protesters were never a threat to our way of life nor were they ever advocating a violent overthrow.  They simply demanded justice just like the protesters in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, and countless other countries where our government supports such activity. 

I will admit there were one or two voices that advocated violence at any cost, but they were the exceptions in a surprisingly peaceful movement.  The goal was to disrupt business as usual and get the attention of those in power.  In this, they succeeded.  Wall Street bankers and Investors had to walk a few extra blocks to work one morning and come face to face with the victims of the financial disaster.  

All of America ought to be grateful for their dedication and perseverance to the cause of justice.  Mayors, Governors, and other elected officials finally heard the voice of public opinion and began to talk about our financial crisis in real terms not merely as faceless statistics.

What caused me more concern than the unwashed protesters living in city parks were the comments made by Newt Gingrich.  In a political forum, he told those in the Occupy Wall Street Movement to, “Go get a job after they take a bath”.  This statement comes from the very same person who earned between $1.6 and $1.8 million over an 8 year period working as a consultant for Freddie Mac after leaving Congress in 1999.

If my memory serves me correctly, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were responsible for sparking the sub-prime mortgage crisis by using their taxpayer backing to guarantee risky housing loans for private banks.  Perhaps it was Newt who masterminded the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression.

To date, I have not heard of any banker or investor being pepper sprayed, roughed up, or arrested for their actions which nearly toppled our government.  Perhaps more of us ought to thank the protesters in the Occupy Movement for their patriotism and willingness to stand up for the many without a voice.  And that is to the point. 

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