So the Occupy Movement has been in full swing since September. What started in New York City has branched out to hundreds of cities all over the country and the globe. Thousands of people all over the world have expressed their discontent with the economic systems that are in place.There is a wealth disparity in this country that is so gross, it is a sin. Unchecked capitalism has run amok and has snowballed through a combination of profits and greed that have left good honest people struggling to find jobs, scrape together a living, and provide for their families.
Occupy Wall Street and the ensuing Occupy Movement has sought to name these evils and call for a response. No longer can we sit idly by while millionaires and billionaires get tax cuts and bonuses while we set records for unemployment rates. The Occupy Movement has finally made a stand for the 99%!
So what?
Unless you are Stephen Colbert and are now saturated with material for your late night comedy news show, my guess is that this hasn't really affected you.
One of the biggest criticisms of the movement is that it is unclear in its goals. It is leaderless, slow, and confusing. All of these factors combine to make the Occupy Movement somewhat difficult to support.
Jon Stewart pointed out in a segment a little while back that perhaps this criticism isn't exactly on par. Maybe thats because these people aren't politicians or economists. Their responsibility isn't to fix the broken system. Their responsibility is to be a US citizen. A person who votes. A person who expresses their discontent with a severely broken system.
But the question still stands. So what?
Have you lived your life differently because thousands of people have decided to live in downtown parks in their tents?
When it comes down to it, they are right. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. So what can I do about it?
I can make a decision each day to live in ways that not only protest, but make a difference. I can choose to shop at mom and pop stores. Small businesses may cost more, but there is a reason for that, and I happen to believe that they are worth it. I can choose to move my bank account to a smaller local bank. Local banks may cost more on ATM fees, but those fees are worth it. I can choose to do any number of things that say in my actions and in where my money is going that I will no longer support big business, bailouts, banks, and instead choose to support people.
Of course, I will never be able to escape the systems that I live in and participate in daily, but all of these little actions add up. If everyone does nothing, nothing will happen. If everyone does a little bit of something, those little bits will become very large and can trigger a lot of change.
How will you choose to live your daily life? It's my hope that we can make these changes together. In our purchases, in our human interactions, in our lives, to all work together. Together we can be a powerful symbol. A symbol for peace.