We’ve all seen the news. The Occupy Wall Street movement has invaded Wall Street, and there are satellite movements appearing across the country. While many of the protestors are university students, it is still not clear why we should care about Occupy Wall Street. The answer is simple. The occupiers are protesting the extremely high-income inequality in the United States, which is not only a problem itself but also highlights many other problems within our country.
DU students should care about the Occupy Wall Street movement because it is the start of a conversation that we must participate in for the sake of our nation. The Occupy Wall Street protestors are angry about the income inequality within our nation.
Since the 1970’s median wages have stagnated. This is a problem because the top percent has had huge increases in their incomes and wealth. American workers have consistently gotten better at doing what they do, but with no accompanying award.
I ask you now, what happened to the American dream? Hard work no longer allows you to move up in society, but rather will keep you in the same place. This is atrocious. Occupy Wall Street protesters are angry about the inability for people to move up in society. The image of America has been averted, and Occupy Wall Street just wants it back.
High-income inequality is a trait seen in most third world countries with oppressive dictatorships. According to rankings from the CIA, the USA is between Côte d’Ivoire and Uruguay. The section of the rankings we are in is generally populated by third -world countries.
As an industrialized country, we should be more equal than they are in terms of distribution of wealth. Why aren’t we? Countries with most of their wealth controlled by very few also tend to have very bloody revolutions. While it is unlikely that this will occur here in the short term, we still need to be wary.
Income inequality is often a symptom of other problems within a society. As a country we need to start a conversation making sure the poor and disadvantaged have the same ability to move up as you or I do. The Occupy Wall Street movement should matter because it is promoting a very important conversation.
As the-up-and coming generation, we have a responsibility to participate in this conversation. Whether or not you agree with Occupy, you should be asking why the American dream has been perverted.
We must be careful, as should our political leaders from both sides; the rhetoric and issues we are talking about have tendencies to start brutal wars. It is still an important conversation that we need to have, and as students at the University of Denver, we need to make sure the outcome is beneficial to all.
