The Occupy movements have got me fascinated. That's led me a little off-track in terms of what I usually write about, but regardless of their agenda - if you can even say they have an agenda - a movement of this magnitude would intrigue me and compel me to consider what it's implications might be for sustainability. (I wasn't around for the Tea Party.)
I decided to check out Occupy Boston myself to understand better what's brewing there. I've had my expectations violated on an occasion or two before - which is something I think everyone can use a healthy dose of - so I knew I wouldn't be able to trust any interpretation of the people there and their activities until I'd seen a fair bit of it for myself. The only way to build up an accurate sense of any collection of people or ideas is to start from the bottom - with individuals. So that's what I did.
Eliana
It proved more difficult to approach people and get their backstories than I thought it would. Even at a protest, people seemed a little shy about being scrutinized by a nameless stranger. I suspect part of that stems from a reluctance to be perceived as speaking for a movement that's still very much in a formative phase. Another reason is probably that, as Eliana articulated, there are different views represented there and you can't be sure how yours will be received.
Especially if I had just come as an agitator.
But luckily, after possibly scaring off some other people, we were able to talk a bit.
What brought her out here
Eliana works in the biomedical research industry. One of the first things she shared with me was that the environment was her top concern. She saw the economic downturn as an opportunity for a government jobs program to bolster our infrastructure and make society more sustainable, such as by expanding renewable energy.
As far as government debt, she didn't see it as a concern. It had not been one under the previous administration. It was only when Obama came into office that it was raised as a major issue, one manufactured by the Tea Party, when in reality the US would retain its solvency.
It was also important that the Tea Party not be the only group of people assembling and expressing themselves in such a visible way. What's interesting is that, as I would later find out, the two groups weren't mutually exclusive either. Tea Party members have been in attendance at the Occupy movements as supporters, as well as Ron Paul supporters. I suspect they have in common a desire for greater accountability in business and government, whatever size they consider ideal for it.
Government measures
That Eliana repudiated criticism of the deficits under Obama isn't to say she's in full support of him. In his attempt to compromise she's witnessed him preemptively make concessions and give up the opportunities he's had to make substantial progress. In recent times it's seemed to me that Obama might be making an about-face and start putting his foot down, but it may be too late to garner the support of the likes of Eliana.
In terms of policy changes, the conversation turned toward Paul Krugman's suggestions; a return to the Glass-Steagall Act, which had separated commercial and investment banking from the Great Depression until 1999, thus keeping banks from trying to profit off risky investments funded by deposits; and the Buffet rule, which would levy higher taxes on the mega-rich - at least high enough that they'd be paying the same rate as lower brackets. As of today they pay a lower rate than the middle class on average, since their incomes typically come from capital gains, which are taxed less than wages.
Pulling it all together
The Occupy movements are clearly unified by their frustration (who isn't?) and, as I see it, a longing for a more egalitarian distribution of the political power that determines economic fates. Naturally, people will differ in their thoughts on how that can be attained, in addition to tagging their pet issues onto the momentum that's built up. For instance, I witnessed one general assembly where Occupy Boston was compelled to adopt a position on the wars.
It makes me wonder whether this will solidify into more specific, but broad-based policy initiatives. If it doesn't, it's still getting many of us to pause and reflect on the state of the union, the system that's determined it, and the roles played within it. At the very least, I've gotten a few interesting conversations out of it.
I decided to check out Occupy Boston myself to understand better what's brewing there. I've had my expectations violated on an occasion or two before - which is something I think everyone can use a healthy dose of - so I knew I wouldn't be able to trust any interpretation of the people there and their activities until I'd seen a fair bit of it for myself. The only way to build up an accurate sense of any collection of people or ideas is to start from the bottom - with individuals. So that's what I did.
Eliana
It proved more difficult to approach people and get their backstories than I thought it would. Even at a protest, people seemed a little shy about being scrutinized by a nameless stranger. I suspect part of that stems from a reluctance to be perceived as speaking for a movement that's still very much in a formative phase. Another reason is probably that, as Eliana articulated, there are different views represented there and you can't be sure how yours will be received.
Especially if I had just come as an agitator.
But luckily, after possibly scaring off some other people, we were able to talk a bit.
What brought her out here
Eliana works in the biomedical research industry. One of the first things she shared with me was that the environment was her top concern. She saw the economic downturn as an opportunity for a government jobs program to bolster our infrastructure and make society more sustainable, such as by expanding renewable energy.
As far as government debt, she didn't see it as a concern. It had not been one under the previous administration. It was only when Obama came into office that it was raised as a major issue, one manufactured by the Tea Party, when in reality the US would retain its solvency.
It was also important that the Tea Party not be the only group of people assembling and expressing themselves in such a visible way. What's interesting is that, as I would later find out, the two groups weren't mutually exclusive either. Tea Party members have been in attendance at the Occupy movements as supporters, as well as Ron Paul supporters. I suspect they have in common a desire for greater accountability in business and government, whatever size they consider ideal for it.
Government measures
That Eliana repudiated criticism of the deficits under Obama isn't to say she's in full support of him. In his attempt to compromise she's witnessed him preemptively make concessions and give up the opportunities he's had to make substantial progress. In recent times it's seemed to me that Obama might be making an about-face and start putting his foot down, but it may be too late to garner the support of the likes of Eliana.
In terms of policy changes, the conversation turned toward Paul Krugman's suggestions; a return to the Glass-Steagall Act, which had separated commercial and investment banking from the Great Depression until 1999, thus keeping banks from trying to profit off risky investments funded by deposits; and the Buffet rule, which would levy higher taxes on the mega-rich - at least high enough that they'd be paying the same rate as lower brackets. As of today they pay a lower rate than the middle class on average, since their incomes typically come from capital gains, which are taxed less than wages.
Pulling it all together
The Occupy movements are clearly unified by their frustration (who isn't?) and, as I see it, a longing for a more egalitarian distribution of the political power that determines economic fates. Naturally, people will differ in their thoughts on how that can be attained, in addition to tagging their pet issues onto the momentum that's built up. For instance, I witnessed one general assembly where Occupy Boston was compelled to adopt a position on the wars.
It makes me wonder whether this will solidify into more specific, but broad-based policy initiatives. If it doesn't, it's still getting many of us to pause and reflect on the state of the union, the system that's determined it, and the roles played within it. At the very least, I've gotten a few interesting conversations out of it.
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