OCCUPY MOVEMENT

A movement that was to reform or do away with democracy? Tzippy. Blecher

How the occupy movement came about Occupy Wall Street was the first of the Occupy

movements, and was started by a post on ampedstatus.com on Feb 25 2010 titled ‘the elite economic elite Vs the people of the united states’

The post called for a peaceful occupation of Wall Street to protest corporate influence  on democracy, the inequality of wealth, and the absence of legal repercussions behind the GFC.

the post went viral and led to the formation of the 99% movement

The 99% slogan… It’s the slogan for the occupy movement It refers to the concentration of wealth in the

top 1% of income earners compared to the 99% of less income earners

The top 1% of income earners have increased concentration of wealth after tax since the 1970s

The slogan protests that the 1% is not paying enough tax because of tax loopholes while the 99% is paying more tax per capita.

What are they challenging about democracy?Different groups have varying focus but the main demand

across all groups is that big corporations and the global financial system control the world in a way that favours the 1% and is therefore undermining democracy

they are not anti democracy, but want democracy to be restored to its pure state in which everyone has a say and that politics is not just run by the select few who have money and power

many groups advocate for a Robin Hood tax- the wealth of the rich should be taxed and the transfer of wealth should be given to the needy

there should be less inequalities between economic classes

Occupy's challenge to democracy : corrupting influence of money on politics although there is democracy which on the surface seems

fair, that everyone gets to vote, the protesters say that big corporations are pulling a greater weight on politics

They don't like how election campaign are determined by who fund-raised the most, and they don't like how individuals and corporations who have the resources have better access to the legal system in order to challenge the government.

The protesters are disillusioned with the current state of democracy and feel frustrated that there are no practical means for people to participate in the political process once elections are over.

Structure of the movement the movement is very committed to having

participatory democracy. Most of their decisions come about through

general assemblies in which everyone can gave their say by using hand signals to increase participation in the discussions so that the leaders are not the main people in discussions. Their system of government within themselves very much is similar to the direct democracy of ancient Athens.

Why are do they choose to present themselves outside of politics?

 

The protesters are attempting to achieve first on a small scale a model of pure democracy. They first want to create a space where people can have their voice heard uinterrupted and show a model of democracy which they claim government shave failed to do.

They do not want to be part of politics because that would be legitimising the very system that they are protesting against.

They want to build such a mass movement that legislative change will be as a result of the movement.

Effectiveness of the Occupy movement

mixed reports in the media about their success

Financial Times November 2011 argued that a lack of unified goals was preventing the movement from having real influence on the political mainstream.

Many other outlets have added that their inability to properly express their demands was stopping their progress.(ABC)

Social impact In America the movement has managed to

shift attention from America’s economic problems, to broader issues such as income inequality, and the disproportionate wealth.

Political impact October 12, the Los Angeles City Council became one of

the first governmental bodies in the United States to adopt a resolution stating its informal support of the Occupy movement

Some commentators say their influence is waning, evident by the decrease in their numbers

 Jared Bernstein, former chief economic advisor for Joe Biden claimed that the occupy movement influenced Obama’s 2012 state of the union address, which he shifted focus to talk about a fairer tax burden. However he doesn’t mention Occupy’s name anymore which analysts say is indicative of the movement waning popularity and influence.

The verdictThe ideals that the movement advocate for

seem very ideal and great things to be fighting for, but because of their lack of concrete demands and ideology, they lack practical relevance.

They have the potential to be a mass movement but their influence is limited

Occupy Melbourne court case Occupy Melbourne has taken their case to

the federal court challenging that the removal of the movement by the police violated the implied right in the constitution of the freedom of political communication

The case is being watched worldwide that if won, could set a precedent for how local authorities respond to protests and the right to protest.

References http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-02/waters-the-occupy-movement-what-they-stand-for/3615250