by Ruth Bonnet
I went to New York last week to scatter the ashes of Jack, my beloved border collie of 12 years, who lived with me there before we moved to Los Angeles. I spent most of my days wandering and soaking up the sounds of the city, riding the subway all around town, walking through Central Park, eating pizza and bagels. Hearing about the "Occupy Wall Street" movement though, I could not resist going down to Liberty Square one day to check it out.
Much to my surprise (or perhaps not!), what I saw and the people I spoke with bore little resemblance to what has been portrayed in the media. Yes, there were some 18-year-old anarchists who wanted to overthrow the system. Of course there were. We all have that streak in us when we're 18. They show up at every demonstration of this kind.
But it wasn't just 18-year-old anarchists or 9/11 truthers. One guy I met has two companies and makes $250k a year. He was sleeping down there. Another guy has a masters in Environmental Studies and has not been able to get a job. They were just two of the eloquent, reasonable people that have felt compelled to demonstrate against "an economic system that currently subverts both our government, and our social fabric," as one of their main chants says.
But that doesn't mean they're all or even mostly radicals who are saying "Capitalism BAD, redistribute all wealth!" They mostly think capitalism is a GOOD idea, to say nothing of freedom and democracy, they just think the system has been broken.
Perhaps Lawrence Lessig, a director of the Center for Ethics at Harvard University, professor of law at Harvard Law School, and member of the 99% sums it up best: "Markets, I believe, when properly regulated, produce extraordinary innovation and spread wealth. I believe no one should be permitted to buy an election, human or not. I believe equality is a means to a better society. Regulation is necessary to keep the powerful true. And swift and efficient justice is necessary when the powerful are not true. I believe in the Great Society, even if we've not found it yet."
That Great Society is the American Dream. But the truth is the American Dream is in great peril.
Last year, 2.6 million more Americans slipped into poverty. According to the Census Bureau, there are now 46.2 million people below the poverty line, the highest in the 52 years the bureau has been publishing these figures. And in new signs of distress among the middle class, median household incomes fell last year to levels last seen in 1997.
You read that right. Middle class incomes are in the exact same place they were 14 years ago. Of course the cost of living has gone up considerably since then. Gas, for example, was less than a dollar a gallon.
And now people are wondering where they will live if and when the bank forecloses on their house. Two-income families who are now running out of unemployment benefits are trying to balance paying the mortgage or the rent, feed themselves and wonder what will happen when they become sick.
Kids who did the right thing and got an education can't find any work -- and they're not being fussy. Never mind something in their field or something for which they qualify: NOTHING. I promise you that if it took me almost a year to find a full-time job, with my resume and references, it's a hard slog out there.
The most astounding thing is what I saw when I returned to the square later that day with a bag of dog food (chefs come by at night with trays of prepared food donated to the cause, but the dogs need something too). People had come straight from work, in suits and other corporate attire, and were standing holding signs, or just coming by with donations, or to shake the hands of the protesters.
These people believe in democracy. They believe exercising the rights that We The People have agreed upon: freedom of speech, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition our government for a redress of grievances. These people don't just say they know about the constitution: they actually DO know it! (or at least they had the presence of mind to copy the wikipedia article). (Editor's note: This would make sense had I been able to add the pictures, but Daily Kos's html editor kinda sucks. If you'd like the article with pics and better formatting. Here it is.)
Those who say "They can't shut down Wall Street - what about all THOSE jobs!" or "Most banks are mid-town anyway" don't get it -- it's not about shutting down the banks per se. It's a protest about how money and corporate greed controls every decision made in this country, and all politicians, including the Democrats.
I hope that this is the start of a true progressive movement, like the Tea Party started for the Republicans (and scared the crap out of them at the same time).
The most progressive liberal in the White House in the past 40 years was Nixon! NIXON! Anti-semitic, paranoid, Tricky Dicky! He wanted universal healthcare, opened the door to China and started the EPA! Think about that!! Maybe this will bring the Democrats back from the right. Because I really don't see much difference between the moderate Republicans (though there may be few left) and most of the Democrats.
We are the 99%.
Ruth Bonnet is an administrative professional by day, moonlights as a singer in piano bars, and is an occasional correspondent for Slurve Magazine.