I’ve yet to weigh in on the protesters camped out near Wall Street and even here in Chicago at the Chicago Board of Exchange. I tend not to comment on most protest movements because usually by the time I weigh in on it the blasted thing is over and the media have moved on to how many people were killed by jelly-fish this summer. And maybe we should be fighting the real jelly enemy.
This protest seems slightly different and seems to have lasted longer than one’s previous. I am reminded slightly of the Hooverville’s set up during the Great Depression in the 1920’s. Hooverville’s were shanty towns built by homeless/jobless people. One of the largest Hooverville’s was right in the middle of New York’s Central Park. While it was something done out of necessity, it was also a political statement, as if to say, “Yeah, I’m homeless and jobless so I’m setting up shop right on your lawn”.
It was an in your face maneuver to then president Herbert Hoover, who seems to have been fairly responsible for the Great Depression. He continued on a policy of, “everything’ll be fine”, economics, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t until drastic measures were taken by F. D. R. did we see any real rebuilding and escape from the depths of the Great Depression. And how did President Roosevelt do it?
He created jobs. (And then fought a war, but that’s beside the point) The very thing President Obama is asking for with his jobs bill. We know now that war isn’t the thing that’ll get us out of this recession/depression. We need to focus on the rebuilding of Americas infrastructure. And that’ll create jobs.
It’s been my experience that American’s don’t care if you’re super wealthy; we just want to make sure everyone is towing the American line. It’s patriotic to contribute to the betterment of the country and forsake personal riches. Dr. Jonas Salk, inventor of the Polio vaccine, could have made billions for his cure. Instead, knowing what a horrible disease Polio was, gave the vaccine away for free. For free! He did it because he knew it would benefit everybody. What an American!
I just want the same opportunity my ancestors had when they came to this country. They had a dream and worked for it and no one could take it away from them. They saved their own money and bought their own homes. They usually raised 3-6 children on one person’s salary. Those are the days I long for and I think if we work together, get a clear picture of what the protester’s want, maybe we can start building that future. I guess that’s what we’re fighting for.
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