EDITORIAL: Occupy Wall Street – Both Sides Of The Coin

By Te-Erika Patterson

I was a bit hesitant to write my opinion about the Occupy Wall Street Protests that are spreading around the globe simply because I had no clear understanding of what the protestors wanted. Although the web blasted reports of mayhem and confusion and arrests and videos of women being hurt which angered me, I still had to figure out the point of the protests before I could voice an opinion.

After lengthy conversations with many people I now have a general idea and here is my summary.

What do the Occupy Wall Street Protestors want?

They want to call attention to the fact that they are in debt due to higher education and they don’t have jobs because of an economy that is plummeting while the wealthy thrive and prosper further widening the gap between the rich and the poor. In the past there were 3 classes, the upper class, middle class and lower class and now the middle class has disappeared leaving a distinct gap between the majority of the country and the financial elite, the 1% of the country who owns the majority of the wealth and ultimately, the power to influence decision makers.

The protestors believe that the country’s elite should be taxed just as much as those in the lower tax brackets. The mere fact that they are not taxed in the same manner has caused a cry of outrage from those who struggle to survive while the wealthy continue to thrive. The big businesses of banks and other wealthy CEO’s have been labeled as GREEDY while some protestors claim that if the wealthy were simply taxed the same as they were, the money gathered could be used for programs that could help them improve the lives of every American.

Watching recent budgets cuts in government assistance programs healthcare, education and the travel industry is daunting for the protestors who are upset that the less they make, the more they pay out which further digs them into a never ending hole of debt, which they feel is a direct ploy by the powers that be to retain power and to oppress them.

OWS supporters want the leadership in this country to stand in the best interests of the majority of the people instead of the financial elite and eliminate financial gain as the chief motivating factor behind the decision making that affects millions of Americans.

Now that you have a general understanding of the Protestors point of view I would like to present the opposing perspective so you can see where the two perspectives clash.

How do the 1% feel about the Occupy Wall Street Protests?

The financial elite, banking industries and their families probably feel as though they have worked for generations to establish themselves as part of the 1%. They feel that the unfair taxing that so many of the protestors complain about is completely unfounded. They argue that although they may not pay the same rate in taxes on their earned income, they do pay other taxes that the majority of the population do not even know exist; capital gains taxes, interest earnings taxes, luxury taxes, all above and beyond income and sales taxes.

The financial elite are doing what most people do in secret, they use the power of their dollar as well as the power of their influence through voting to protect their own interests. The 1% who oppose the OWS movement probably feel as though they have earned their financial success and do not have to share it if they do not want to. They probably feel as though they have learned the formulas to success through trial, error and many sacrifices and even through a floundering economy they will still prosper because they know how to educate themselves enough to make their money make money for them.

They see no reason why everyone can’t bring themselves to their level financially and have no sympathy for the people marching and hoping for a handout or even a hand up. DO THE WORK is what they want to scream to protestors that they believe are mostly motivated by the coolness of the idea of a protest and who are oblivious to the premise that it takes action and dedication to incite change.

Now that you have a better understanding of both sides of the protest, this is what I suggest you do.

Focus on yourself. You have the power to create your own destiny. The group mentality in general is flawed simply because as new leaders arise they will work toward achieving their own personal interests, which is a trait that seems to be inherent to all people.

If you accept this inherent human tendency and focus on improving your personal situation whether it is finances, relationships or spiritual growth, you will realize that your victim mentality is diminished and you then take ownership of your current situation and are either compelled to make the changes necessary to improve it or wallow in despair hoping for someone to rescue you.

Take ownership of your life and recognize that your choices are personal and lead your life the way you want it to go. You blame the educational institution for leading you to believe that an investment in higher education will afford you a better lifestyle and then you graduated college and did not see the realization of that fairy tale and you are wholly upset. Upset with who? Who told you to believe it and stake your entire future on it?

The future of this country depends on breaking the mentality that success equals achieving millionaire or rock star status. The only thing abundant in the lives of these people is money yet they still have to endure sickness, the loss of loved ones and in most cases, an extreme spiritual awakening because they realize that their perceived successes, no matter how much they are celebrated, still do not determine their sense of self worth.

Wake up. You don’t need to be GREAT to feel great about yourself. You don’t need to ask for change when you have the power to create change, starting from within. If you are waiting for someone to give you permission or a hand out to achieve your best life then you have missed the key ingredient that fuels most success stories. Those who GROW don’t ask for permission to prosper, their desire drives them.

Those who have achieved the western ideal of success can attest that once it is accomplished they have to grind harder to maintain it, spending their entire lives trying to keep their status and even resorting to suicide if it is lost. The majority of you are in a situation that the elite would kill themselves if they ever went through. Who is really better off?

There are entire countries, civilizations and populations of people that we believe are sad and depressed because financially they are not abundant but they actually are abundant because they are not bound by this idea that they are worthless unless they are on the cover of a magazine.

Wake up. You have more than you really need– Four walls, Food, Clothing, Family, Laughter. Many of us have all of these things and do not even appreciate it. If you see something that you think can be improved, create the improvement. You are stirring up so much negative energy and multiplying it with your protests. Who listens to a child throwing a tantrum? You are not a victim. Regain your composure and create the circumstances that you want to see around you. You don’t need permission. You have every right to do so.

It is within your power to take action and you should or not, your lifestyle is your choice.

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