I know very little about the Occupy Wall Street protests other than what is printed in the papers. By all accounts, the majority of the participants in the demonstrations are unemployed and they feel as they have been victimized by corporate greed.
Demonstrators claim to speak for “99 percent” of Americans rallying against the wealthy 1 percent. I can promise you that I am not in the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, and yet I flatly reject the notion that any of these demonstrators are speaking for me. But perhaps by saying they are in the 99% makes them feel like they are a part of something much bigger than it is. Misery loves company, you know.
This ugly recession has adversely affected millions of innocent people who work hard and contribute much. Unquestionably, the root causes of this global economic implosion can be traced back to corrupt politicians and greedy bankers. However, outside of being street therapy for those involved, this Occupy-branded protest is not going to change anything.
What will change each protester’s unemployment dilemma is to channel that same energy in a more productive direction. Instead of merely occupying space, they should work to improve the space they are occupying. Raising a sign that claims you’re entitled to a job is a waste of cardboard and markers. Employers aren’t looking for entitlement-minded employees; they’re looking for employees who have a great work ethic.
I believe in American’s right to protest. But more than that, I believe in America. And I know she rewards hard work more than idle chit chat.
Related articles
- “Saturday Night Live” Actress Victoria Jackson Shows Up At Occupy Wall Street To Rail On Poor People And Call Obama A Marxist (VIDEO) (businessinsider.com)
- Should Occupy Wall Street Occupy Silicon Valley Instead? (forbes.com)
This is a group of entitled posers that offer no solutions. Against corrupt business? Me, too. But occupying Wall Street to protest corrupt business is like demonstrating in front of your local elementary because there are a couple of bad teachers on staff. They do not speak for me, and I’ve yet to meet another 99% friend who says they speak for him or her. I never thought I’d live to see the day when hard work was vilified and that those who have earned more through their efforts should support those who chose not put forth the same effort. The uber-rich these cranks seem to be “against” are more like .01%, not 1%. Somebody should ask Warren Buffet how he pays so little income tax on his millions. It must be the advantage of good accountants and tax loopholes because the rest of us self employed businesspeople are paying a helluva lot (in the range of 40%). Btw, 47% of Americans pay no taxes. So we’re not paying our fair share? I’ve got no patience for stupidity and that is a stupid argument.
Entitlements ARE problems, but let’s not leave it at the entitlements that young people and protesters feel toward there right to a job, promotion, bonus, etc. There is also entitlement that some people have of government programs that help them, entitlement to sue a doctor or business for something frivolous (they’re not all frivolous). And last, but not least, there’s the entitlement that business execs have to receive big bonuses and million dollar salaries, even when they crash the economy. I can sympathize with the protestors frustration toward the last one, but that doesn’t mean they are any more entitled to be given a job.