What happened to Occupy Wall Street? 4 talking points
The anti-corporate movement may be out of the headlines, but it's keeping itself busy
After police in cities across the country cracked down on Occupy encampments, the movement lost the "target-rich visual environment" that attracted media organizations, says David Carr in The New York Times. But don't count the movement out yet: Occupy groups of all stripes are taking on a host of issues, from income inequality to banking regulations. Here, four ways Occupy Wall Street is trying to change the world:
1. Partying like it's 1776
An Occupy-inspired organization — the 99 Percent Declaration Working Group — plans to elect 876 "delegates" for a national assembly in Philadelphia over the Fourth of July weekend. In the mold of the Founding Fathers, the delegates will ratify a "petition for a redress of grievances" against the government, some of which will touch on corporate greed and the gap between rich and poor.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2. Organizing mass protests
Inspired by Oregon's Occupy Portland, groups in 34 cities are preparing for "a day of nonviolent direct action" on Feb. 29 to protest the influence of business in politics. Occupy groups are also calling for a nationwide "general strike" on May 1, to show corporations what "a day without the 99 percent" would look like.
3. Going toe-to-toe with financial lobbyists
Occupy the SEC submitted a 325-page document to government financial watchdogs, challenging the arguments of lobbyists who are trying to water down new regulations of the financial industry. In particular, the group urges the government to implement a tough version of the so-called Volcker Rule, which is intended to prevent banks from using their own money to make risky trades. "Policy fights are won by people who show up," says Matthew Yglesias at Slate. Engaging with regulatory agencies is part of "the day-in, day-out grind of policymaking."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
4. Or maybe Occupy's work is done
Perhaps Occupy Wall Street "already won a big battle and is now watching victory unfold," says Carr in the Times. The movement inserted economic inequality into the national conversation, and it's no coincidence that President Obama shortly afterward began pursuing a more populist agenda. Obama's "handlers have steered him away from mentioning the movement by name, but several pages of Occupy's hymnal are now part of his political oratory." Expect Occupy's message to play a role in the November election and beyond.
Sources: AP, Mother Jones, NY Times (2), Slate
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Duchess of Gloucester: the hard-working royal you've never heard of
Under The Radar Outer royal 'never expected' to do duties but has stepped up to the plate
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Are 'judge shopping' rules a blow to Republicans?
Today's Big Question How the abortion pill case got to the Supreme Court
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published