As the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement inches closer to its second month, I am intrigued by the differences in opinion shared by people across the country. Being Latino has talked about the Latino community’s role in OWS and OWS after its first month. I am more concerned, however, with the backlash coming from the very people that OWS is meant to benefit.
In fact, it seems that the biggest criticism is coming from people within the “99%” (people that make less than $380,000, based on the IRS database). That’s right, the very people that the thousands of OWS protestors around the world are fighting for, are the main ones discrediting OWS efforts. You would think that the people making over $380K would be the most vocal, but they’re not. Why would they worry at all? They’ll just sit back and watch the 99% defeat themselves.
(Actually the 1% aren’t silent…the media speaks for them. Don’t forget that the mainstream media is owned by major corporations, the 1% themselves. How can you fully trust a source that is owned by the people that OWS is targeting?)
It’s yet another case of the tried and true, divide-and-conquer strategy. We’ve seen it worked to perfection by the Spanish Conquistadores, European slave traders, and the elite of pre-1776 United States’ society (to be fair its been used by various dominant groups, not just Europeans/Whites). And we’re falling for it again…
Let me be clear, I don’t want anyone to read this and think that they automatically have to agree with OWS. We are all entitled to our opinion(s), in this country especially. What I am saying, however, is that we should all examine the role that we play in the entire process and the surrounding influences. As one of my mentors implores, “Question everything.” And that’s exactly what this OWS movement is encouraging all of us to do, question.
Why does a select group of people in this country dictate how everyone else lives (keep in mind we live in a “democracy”)? How does 1% of the population account for 40 percent of financial wealth? How is it that about 1 in 7 Americans go hungry? (We could feed everyone in the world if we wanted, but I guess it’s OK for 29,000 children to die every day globally. I’m eating filet mignon and lobster, what do I care?)
I’m sorry but the “I work hard and am fairly well off and if you aren’t, it’s your fault” argument deflects attention from the real issue at hand. Newsflash: in capitalism not everyone can “make it.” And no, don’t assume that I’m advocating for another economic system, but why can’t we take what we have and make it better?
Again, not saying you should take a particular stance, just recognize the forces at play. While we fight to determine who’s in the 99%, 53%, or whatever, the elite are sitting back and laughing. “It’s working again,” they’ll say. Divide-and-conquer never fails.
About Cristopher Rubio
I did not read the entire post before I gave it a like..WHY??? because I could not imagine an objective thinking Latino could actually take a position against OWS….Wall Street and the entire banking/lending system has achieved the dubious distinction of establishing exactly the type of oligarchy that has plagued Latin America for half a milennium.
They did it without overtly even using the armed forces…something that Batista, Somozas, Trujillo, the PRi…Peron, Straussner, Franco, Salazar ad nauseum had to resort to. Divide and conquer is at the essence of their tactics. The false promises of easy real estate wealth….erosion of legal barriers to prevent corruption, and the unholy alliance of the Military/Industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us of.
68% of all millionaires say they are in favor of increasing taxes on the rich.The RE-ESTABLISHMENT of rigid controls to prevent fraud,exploitation and usery from further ruining our economy is imperative. This is the strongest economy in the world, yet a series of false arguements posing the threat of poverty are employed at Fox News, CNN and other media to frighten the public.
OWS is setting in motion a genuine cry for financial reform and a move to assure that everyone (1%) pay their fair share. It is no accident that the same forces that oppose OWS are also in favor of racist immigration tactics.
Don Gomez