The Occupy Wall Street movement by ordinary citizens is largely a symbolic act, with political ramifications. It symbolizes the need for (and demands) a public-interest based economy and the failure of our government to satisfy that need. The question is, will our representatives change course and promote the general welfare in our economic policies or continue to behave as absentee landlords of their economic domain — interstate and international commerce?
In a nation that rewards the accumulation of wealth from wealth and not from labor the rich will continue to get richer and the poor, poorer. The poor will also get angrier as more jobs and capital are sent overseas, making their situations worse. And who could blame them? They live in a democracy, based on representative government. But when their representatives do nothing to protect their interests they will, of course, feel alienated and powerless, unless they take power into their own hands, just the way the first American revolutionaries did.
I am afraid that as the gap between rich and poor continues to grow so too will civil unrest because our representatives are failing us. Our national economy must return to a public-interest based economy, for the good of country because what is good for our people is good for our country. The two cannot be separated. But our people are separated from our government. They have the power to elect their representatives but, in return, get little or no representation for their efforts. Their political will is not carried forth into laws promoting their economic interests above powerful minority, special interests.
Until the concept of a utilitarian economy takes root in Congress’s legislative agenda the Occupy Wall Street movement will not go away and will gain momentum with an even broader spectrum of Americans. If nothing is done, the endgame will take us back to where this country started — to a bloody struggle for a fair voice and representation in government. This country is on the wrong track. If something isn’t done soon for average Americans, how long will it be before the entire train derails?
Mauri Baggiano, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.