By Joe English

BOSTON–We shivered in the brisk Boston wind and took in the view.  Before us lay a faction of the famous “Occupy Wall Street” movement, a city of protesters standing up for the American Dream.  But the dirty, cramped tent-city hardly seemed to match their apparently ideal message.  Our delegation of Galway students walked through park, taking in the meager food stand, narrow pathways winding though torn tents, and groups of bundled-up protesters huddling together for warmth.

But despite the apparent bleakness, never once did we see a glimmer of hopelessness.  In the eyes of every protester we passed, we saw a sense of purpose shining through the scarves and winter hats.  Their energy and delight in their cause uplifted them, allowing the activists to carry out protests in Boston that are mimicked in hundreds of cities across the globe.

So what exactly is the “Occupy Wall Street” movement?  What could possibly bring thousands of people from across the country to live in filth for weeks on end? Our interviews with protesters onsite provided us with the top five principles behind the cause:

1. Protesters give a voice to the 99% of America whose voice is smothered by corporations and the richest 1%.  Politicians, swayed by money and influence, often pass laws to support their most generous campaign donors: America’s richest 1%.  This mentality was illustrated in the infamous Supreme Court case, Citizens United vs. Federal Election Committee, where corporations were given the same first-amendment rights as American citizens.  This enabled corporations the ability to shovel as much money as they pleased into elections—without having to disclose it to the public.  Because big business can now afford to spend billions on elections, they can legally drown out the voices of common Americans.  “Occupy Wall Street” protesters adamantly resist the shift of power from Americans to big business, and they want politicians to stop pandering to the rich.  In their mission statement, they say they are “fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations on the democratic process.”
2. Activists protest destructive economic decisions made by Congress and big banks.  In 2001, the Bush Administration passed a series of tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans—those making over $250,000 per year—in an effort to create jobs by making the rich richer.  In doing so, the government sunk further into debt.  The Congressional Budget Office predicted in 2010 that extending the tax cuts would add $3.3 trillion to the national debt if the cuts were extended for another nine years, ranking them as the worst way to alleviate the Recession.  Congress extended them nevertheless. For what reason?  To please the richest 1% of America that has the biggest influence on elections.  As summarized by OccupyWallSt.org, their activists are fighting against the “role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations.”
3. Protestors speak out against predatory loans and foreclosures made by greedy Wall Street banks.  Every day, more Americans lose their homes due to foreclosed loans that were made by big banks prior to the recession.  According to The Nation magazine, “these trillion-dollar institutions are methodically harvesting the last possible pound of flesh from millions of homeowners before kicking these failing debtors out of their homes.”  However, these are the same banks that American taxpayers saved in 2008 when they were about to go bankrupt.  The “Occupy Wall Street” protesters say banks need to forgive bad loans and stop their voracious foreclosing activity to return the favor.
4. “Occupy Wall Street” activists are tired of willfull political gridlock.  In the midst of America’s worst economy since the Great Depression, the government is barely taking baby steps towards finding a solution.  Aside from President Obama’s watered-down Stimulus Bill in 2009, not a single effective piece of legislation has gone into effect to improve our economy.  Is it from a lack of ideas? Is it from lack of funding? Hardly.  The Republicans and Democrats in office simply refuse to make an effort to cooperate and pass effective economic policy.  This was proven this summer when narrow-mindedness on the debt-ceiling issue threatened to shut down the economy.  Partisanship currently threatens to kill the American Jobs Bill, another stimulus attempt imperiled by lack of cooperation.  “Occupy Wall Street” protesters say they have had enough with party differences, and our economy needs to be fixed right now
5. Protesters raise awareness about the injustice and inequality threatening American democracy.  Too few Americans are aware of the extent to which our government is handing over power to big banks and the wealthiest Americans.  Too few of our citizens know the true magnitude of the foreclosure crisis and deceitful loans draining American bank accounts.  Too few are aware of the underhanded political reasons behind our government’s inaction.  The Occupy movement raises awareness by organizing in cities across the nation, and by showing the government that common Americans are demanding real change, right now.

As we stood in the blistering wind, the impact of “Occupy Wall Street” hit us. These tattered tents weren’t home to a few hippies protesting a cause that would fade in a month’s time.  The square was full of common Americans sick of losing their voice to corporate fat cats.   They want that voice back, and they have the audacity to say enough is enough.

However, occupying squares and parks all over the country is just the first step.  After drawing the world’s attention to their cause, the protesters now need to propose legislation that will change the inequality they oppose.  Representing 99% of Americans, the movement now has the manpower to institute real, lasting change—an opportunity they need to embrace right away.

Photos by Joe English

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