What Does It Mean?

People have asked what the "Occupy" movement is about. My sense at the march was many people had specific reasons for being there--and those varied from person to person--but all the issues come back to the general themes of social and economic justice.

I would love to hear someone try to rationalize to me that what is happening now in our economy is fair. I can't fathom that I'd be able to relate to or understand the explanation, but I'd love to give it a shot. And I mean a real explanation, not a Fox news sound bite babble. A tea-partier at the rally Friday gave it a shot, but when he answered, in response to my question about what roads he would drive on to get to the demonstration if we had NO government, "that a truly free market would still have roads" I quit listening.

I have to wonder why the rich even want the system we have now. Pretty soon they're going to have live their whole lives behind gates because the minute they venture out they're going to be the target of kidnapping. Ask the rich of Latin America if it's totally peachy keen to live that way.

As broad and all-encompassing as the themes of social and economic justice are, sometimes the personal stories are the most powerful. This would be where I posted a pic of the sign I had that detailed one such story, but I was a little too free with my delete button when I was editing so I no longer have it. The gist was this--"Laid off from my job and then hired back at reduced salary and no benefits. Gave birth prematurely and lost job completely. Now about to lose house."

Comments

[gary rith]

I was happy to see yesterday that the protest moved to houses of the very rich in NYC, but displeased that there are arrests in Boston.

[Jenrantsraves]

Did you see the movie "The Company Men"? Totally depressing movie, but probably one that everyone should see.

[suburbancorrespondent]

You see, Jenn, we live with the Great American Myth that says that, if you are having financial troubles, it is somehow your fault; because America is the land of opportunity and anyone who wants to succeed can. Any evidence which flies in the face of that is either dismissed or explained away with "That person made the wrong choices - game over." I think this myth is appealing, because it gives us the illusion of control over our lives. Those of us who have lost that control (through no fault of our own!) are forced to live both without the myth and without health insurance (which, oh, by the way, isn't really necessary, because no one needed it in the fifties and maybe you should just take better care of yourself.)

Really, I could go on; but I won't.

[green girl in wisconsin]

As I watch this play out, I'm reminded again of Steinbeck's genius descriptions of this very same thing during the 30's in The Grapes of Wrath--he even describes the wealthy living behind gates with guards to protect their holdings...

[Renee]

I so agree with suburban correspondent above. It is so easy for people who are living well because of great opportunities to be blind to the lack of opportunities for others. They aren't even aware of how their lives were different than others and how that shaped their outcomes. I think this is the reason there is a correlation between liberalism and education level. A typical liberal arts education tries to open our eyes to how other people live, and how it impacts their ability to be successful in life. There is no such thing as a level playing field in the U.S.

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

I'm in agreement with Renee and Suburban Correspondent. I saw (and shared on facebook) a Calvin & Hobbes comic that explained the thinking of the 1% in tangible terms -- and if true, that thinking is no different than "the world owes me" attitude.
My husband and I know we are blessed, but I have to remind myself that it is due to luck, too, and not just good planning and hard work.

[Brightside-Susan]

The irony is that the trouble most companies are having right now is with reduced sales - be it retail, housing, autos, electonics, whatever. And why is that?

Could it be because American's average income fell over 9% since 2007? The cost of food, transportation, utilities and healthcare have risen (averaged out) over 25% since then.

Until employers let loose the purse strings and start hiring and paying more we are going to be in a financial standoff. The 1% cannot support the entire economy - no matter how much stuff they buy!

[lanes]

Green Girl, I started reading The Grapes of Wrath again this summer and almost couldn't take it.

Elizabeth Warren has said this more eloquently than I could, but I agree with her wholeheartedly:

"There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You built a factory out there — good for you!

But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn’t have to worry that maurauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory, and hire someone to protect against this, because of the work the rest of us did. Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea — God bless. Keep a big hunk of it.

But part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along."

[Martha Mc]

And did he understand that those roads in a "totally free market" would be toll roads?

This seems an appropriate link --
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/02/1021032/-An-indecent-proposal

Lanes, I love Elizabeth Warren. As Mrs. G said a couple of weeks ago, she's one reason to move to Massachusetts.

[Mulberry Bags Outlet]

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