The Occupy Wall Street Movement

By Sarah King

Occupy Wall Street is a grassroots movement created to empower the middle class of the United States. What started in New York has now spanned the entire country and other countries across the world. All of this progress has occurred in a little under a month time period. The American citizens have found enlightenment in the heart of the protests, for they share a common distaste for the greed of the upper-class and corporate nature of the United States. While the everyday citizens or the 99% as they refer to themselves have banned together for the rights and treatment they deserve, politicians see this as an obstacle or campaigning tool for their upcoming campaign. Even in the face of this revolt the government of the United States abuses the calls of the middle class for their own political gain.

The Democratic Party has been searching for a moral or ideal to cling on to in their campaigns to improve their image with the American voter. The Occupy Wall Street movement provided them with this opportunity. The middle class of the United States is in revolt over the coddling of the rich, this is a political approach democrats have been using for years. More times than not the Democrats in any given situation will preach for higher taxes on the rich and less on the middle to lower classes, this ideal has been long opposed by the Republican party. This provides a political gold mine for people like Barack Obama, for he can honestly state that he stands with the Occupy Wall Street protesters, while his republican counterparts have never stood for them and the rights they are not fighting for.

A short few weeks ago not a single member of the Republican Primary race had put forward a economic plan, then this was not an issue, the candidates thought they could breeze over this topic, and stick to standard Republican ideals. However, with the escalation of the Occupy Wall street protests it became impossible to ignore the pressure the candidates had, to provide a solution to the woes of the middle class. Herman Cain who is a presidential candidate for the Republican Party was quoted as saying  "It is not a person's fault if they succeeded, it is a person's fault if they failed." He argues the protests are a plan "to distract from the failed policies of the Obama administration." It is beliefs like this that will push the Republican Party further back with the American public, seeing as the majority of citizens side with the middle class or create it’s population. 

The Occupy Wall Street movement started and continues to provide a voice to so many people in the United States, however the politicians are taking advantage of the movement for a completely different reason. Political leaders are using the movement as a pawn for their own gain and greed, while the people continue to suffer the consequences of their disputes, and the greed of big businesses. The 99%  is fighting for rights and politicians continue to fight for power over them.