The Occupy Wall Street Movement

I have become fascinated with the ideas that Occupy Wall Street represents. I've always been somewhat drawn to the ideas of the Sixties, with its new, radical, progressive way of thinking and I feel that same draw to this national concept. What started as a loosely-formed group of ideas involving social and governmental reform with a group of Canadian activists has now become a well-formed concept, demanding less corporate involvement in government, less corruption and more economic equality. The movement has swept across the United States with alarming speed and strength, with demonstrations already occuring in over 16 cities and more popping up weekly (including San Diego, starting today!).

They are calling themselves the 99 Percent - as in those occupying and the people the represent. They are the 99% of Americans who are not benefitting from the state of the government and economy. They are people who played by the rules and the system still isn't working for them. They are drowning in thousands of dollars of student debt, losing their homes, searching for work and wondering how and why this happened to them.

They are my brother-in-laws, who were so hard-hit in their construction employment by the economic crash, that they were threatened many, many times with foreclosure, sold anything of value to eat, worked where ever they could to make a buck for their families. They are the stories of our friends, family, acquaintences - who haven't made bad decisions, just simply tried to play the game.

In reality, the actual percentage is not representative of the people.

"If you’re in the 85th percentile, for instance, your household is making more than $100,000, and you’re probably doing okay. If you’re in the 95th percentile, your household is making more than $150,000." - Washington Post

But that really isn't the point, is it? It's about frustration. It's about hope. It's about changing a corrupt government, a broken system. It's about people.

I am inspired.