Should We Occupy?

A topic that has been bothering me for the past few days are these “Occupy ______” protests that seem to be happening in many large cities of the United States (and random cities around the world too). While I’m totally in favor of protesting and getting your opinion heard, I find these protests in particular a bit disappointingly useless. Of course, this is when my inner moral voice starts asking me, “Don’t you want corruption to end?” and while I may say yes, I highly doubt corruption will stop. Let me explain.

United States was created on a capitalist economy. Thus, it seems a bit unfair to me to take away the money of select individuals just because they have more money than most protestors combined. If this nation is based on a capitalist economy, wouldn’t it be fair for those individuals that might or might not have worked hard to make such large amounts of money in their life to keep it? I think most financial issues in this country and in the state of Texas are based on the average individual’s inability to come up with a financial plan and to not bite off more than they can chew. I’ll admit that inflation keeps raising prices pretty much globally and that can make purchasing goods more expensive such as grocery shopping. However, it doesn’t mean everyone has to have the latest phone or the latest gadget if that means suffering financially. I would hope that the past and present recession would’ve taught this nation that people should be rational as to what they can or can’t afford. So to me, the inability to not spend and save your money seems to also be another underlying cause of this huge gap of income that’s present these days. Increases in population also contribute greatly to the elite’s income. The more people buy, the more money they’ll end up having. While corruption is rampant, there would have to be significant amounts of evidence in order to take any of these wealthy people to trial.

I will admit I still feel a bit confused about all of these protests. It seems everywhere I’ve seen protests, they protest against so many things. All the noise created from these protests creates much confusion and it gets to a point where I end up asking myself, what in the world are they even protesting against? Corruption? Greed? The fundamental economic system by which this nation was created? Their inability to not bite off more than they can chew and then blame their debt on others? The Health Care Reform? Terrorism? The lack of jobs? High rents? Inflation? I know this nation has problems and people don’t have jobs, but when the main focus doesn’t seem concise, that’s when I start to get a bit bothered. As optimistic as I wish I could be with these protests, I highly doubt the wealthy will voluntarily give their excess money to the masses. No one can end corruption and greed. It’s a vicious cycle. Once someone from the 99% enters the 1%, unfortunately the lure of money will convert them into the same individuals they once protested against.

The only way to help end these people’s outrage would be by creating more jobs. However, with a split Congress, it’ll be difficult to pass any law. As already seen, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives already voted against the Job Reform President Obama wanted to pass. Thankfully Texas has been able to keep jobs and create several more in order to help feed more families with a disposable income. One can only hope other states will be able to provide people with more jobs as well.