It's been over 2 months since Occupy Wall Street started in New York City. However loosely organized, I imagine it's involved thousands upon thousands of people and millions of consolidated work hours across the country (not to mention the tension, violence, and pain it's had to endure). Basically, a ton of precious resources and attention - more than any kind of government program or business could ever receive in such a short period of time - have gone into this general movement. But why, I am wondering.
A theory:
People have nothing better to do. Seriously. Perhaps there is nothing better left to do in this country; maybe there are no other means left of pursuing happiness and freedom outside of occupying public space. As a country, the economy is tank, political processes have long been unsatisfying, and our personal lives are statistically overtaken by poor health, poverty, and broken families. Therefore, anything to address these issues in a quick and effective manner issues itself as an immediate priority.
The occupation of public spaces may not appear to be a quick and effective strategy however, since it is in fact a massive, unauthorized phenomenon of loose organization rearing unpredictable and unclear movement. However, unauthorized occupation is one way to move outside the amoeba of thick material that makes the status quo - an amalgamation of rules, structures, and enforcement; tools that citizens have been using for a long time without seeing timely or effective change.
Occupation may therefore pose the next best strategy for change and most benign form of unauthorized action, compared to violence, rioting, or terrorism.
Personally, I believe in evolution and see these occupations as expressions of that process, however unfortunate or uncomfortable it may seem in the short term. But that's just the Berkeley bio nerd in me :/
HAPPY Thanksgiving Music
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