The movement Occupy Wall Street, which spans throughout several American cities (it is happening in more than 20 cities as I write), although with some similarities with recent protests in other countries, is a new type of manifestation that I think may be here to stay.
Despite the publicity in the American media, it is being underestimated by a few TV channels and major newspapers,
for its lack of leadership, of a unified speech or a specific proposal from
the protesters (such as the goal for democracy of the Arab Spring movement, or
for free education in recent Chilean manifestations).
I think this is a misunderstanding. It is true that, such as
in Facebook posts, the speeches on the streets express different opinions
on various topics, sometimes seeming unrelated, with no expected outcome from
such comments.
But they all share one important element. The communication
that people are not happy, that they are feeling imprisoned, within this "Oppressing
Wall” – a system, where others make mistakes and they suffer the
consequences. The speeches do not say what they want to reach. But they are
crying out loud that things have to change.
Be it the worsening income distribution and the growing
poverty in the US. Or the financial system and its lack of effective regulation to prevent bankers, in pursuit of
their bonuses and interests, from helping governments to lie, concealing relevant information,
selling junk bonds, etc., causing a credit crunch that disrupted the economy.
A Congress, heavily influenced by these same bankers, with several of its members preferring chaos to a serious negotiation with the government.
The perspective of a long recession. An environment where
every American is born with a $50 000 public debt and growing, with
no relevant measure to reverse the trend. Add to that the large number of young
people leaving college unemployed and already with a bank debt of $ 50-100 thousand.
Perhaps Occupy Wall
Street will have no serious consequence. But it is the dawn of a new type
of manifestation, which I count will remain pacific and within the limits of law. The protesters just want to generate resonance. But this, in
the right frequency and intensity, can put down any Wall.
I wish our leaders cared and changed a few things to start. But they seem too old to understand Facebook.
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