Why I'm Angry and Disappointed with the "Occupy" Movement

11/21/2011

I’m disappointed with the OWS movement – particularly the movement within Canada. The reason? I think they totally dropped the ball.

Issues such as growing income inequity, poverty, and disenfranchisement of the most vulnerable are very important. They deserve attention and action by our policy leaders. But the Occupy movement has actually been quite lazy in making their case. Camping out in public spaces has appeal for those looking to get involved, but in terms of affecting change and raising awareness in the public consciousness, it has been a big failure.

The REAL warriors are the ones volunteering countless hours for organizations that actually help shelter the homeless, or feed the hungry. The warriors are the ones working for social organizations that provide help to vulnerable women and children. The warriors are the ones that are working the phones for their political representatives that care about social issues. The warriors are the ones joining community groups that want to actually make a change in the way we see each other and the world.

All of these things take time and energy. And if as much energy that has gone into arguing about where camping should be permitted had been re-directed towards these activities, maybe Canada would be a little further along in solving some of them.

I’m disappointed that the Occupy movement had for more than a month captured Canada’s attention, and did nothing with it. Instead of saying something positive or actually providing realistic solutions, all they did was shout slogans that didn’t even make sense. They managed to marginalize the message of social justice, and for that I think we will all suffer.
It’s too bad. Such a great opportunity, but such a lazy effort.

8 Comments

Asia

11/21/2011 04:04:01 am

Respectfully, I think you're totally off on this one. The individuals involved in the Occupy movement are the ones who are directly involved in front-line work to try to help combat all that's wrong with the world.

I'm not sure where people get the misconception that Occupy participants are just random people who decided to camp. Many of my friends have been camping out at Occupy Edmonton or have otherwise been involved, and these are activists to fight for causes DAILY, not only through countless hours of volunteer work, but some also through their jobs and careers.

James Leask link

11/21/2011 07:07:38 am

I similarly have to disagree. I know some people who have been involved with the Occupy protests in Edmonton and elsewhere, and dismissing them as lazy because they're not doing charity work while at the protest or camps is even worse: it's a poor argument in bad faith.

Take one friend of mine. He participated in Occupy. A month earlier, he organized a fundraiser at the local business he manages that ended up raising a few thousand dollars for breast cancer research. Others participate in local fundraising and community efforts. The New Democrat Party even had a presence at the Edmonton protest, along with supporters who also "work the phones for their political representatives that care about social issues." Your argument that "REAL warriors" are the ones doing other work is predicated on the idea that nobody involved with the various Occupy protests does, has done or will do anything worthwhile or charitable in their life apart from Occupy, an idea that is as willfully ignorant as it is false. I'm not saying every person involved is working for candidates or doing charity work, but some are, and dismissing them is lazy.

Similarly, saying that "they don't have a clear message" is far lazier than you accuse them of being. People participate for different reasons and each has a story. I've heard people's stories and their frustration; some were accomplished with a quick Google search, others were because I asked people. Some stories were incredibly unique with specific changes requested, others were understandable to me as parts of a large statement of frustration and dissatisfaction overall. There's no excuse for looking at a group of people that size - one that by its nature and design is leaderless - and dismissing them all in a broad stroke because you haven't taken the time to listen.

The Occupy movements (and their arguments) in Canada are assuredly different than the ones in the USA by virtue of the two countries' different economic and legislative environments. Some arguments are crossing the border that really shouldn't, but others are much more cogent and appropriate. Just like every person belonging to a political party or ideology can't be expected to agree, neither should people participating in an international collection of statements of dissatisfaction. It's one thing to question if Occupy itself will accomplish anything specific, and I think that's valid. But dismissing everyone participating as if they are identical and living completely unproductive lives is egregiously lazy.

1000words+ link

11/21/2011 09:35:35 am

Todd, I agree with you on this. Although I’m not angry with what they are not doing, it is too bad that cities around North America are receiving a weakened and often jumbled idea of what they are about.
Firstly, their messaging, their story, has never been clear. I believe the Wall Street guys were on to it and may still be (I’m just not following it anymore), but the other 'movements' represent disparate interests and objectives and are not communicating a message that could indeed draw greater public understanding.
Secondly, I certainly won't disagree with "Asia" in the comment above...there may indeed be a lot of those front line workers and legitimate 'occupy movement' participants involved but, no one knows that...these people could be a credible indicator of a / the story. But they surely are not.

Thirdly, I'm a business-minded and business-oriented individual. Maybe all small business but nonetheless, I believe we have to admit, big business, mainly in the U.S., have done nothing to endear the guy on the street to them with the ethical missteps and fraudulent activity of the last decade or so.
And lastly, there are some systemic changes that are necessary for fairer, more transparent, more understandable business practices and processes. Our stock markets worry me sometimes in that they do not reflect anything but bottom-line profit-driven interests. Hey, don’t get me wrong, profit is critical to success. But not so critical that they or on the other side ethics should drive the stock market, but the profit-only philosophy is not taking other "good" into account. Are there too many big investors, too many faceless funds, vested interests and equity capital vehicles that have seemingly taken humanity out of the equation? Better banking and business practices (regulation?) has rightly established Canada as a leader. Hopefully, others will soon follow our lead.
So, to conclude, there is something to this 'occupy' idea, not something with which I'd participate, but to make a statement, to reveal another side to that seeming mass of money and activity unbeknownst to the average guy; a statement that might indeed be important… as important as what the hippies had to say in the 60's?

Cody Ellis

11/21/2011 11:29:55 am

You wrote a blog post about their concerns. Is that not success?

@Ness0Zero link

11/21/2011 01:15:30 pm

I think the ineffectiveness of the Occupy movement in Canada has to do not with the lacking of a clear message, I think at least most people understand they are fighting against inequality amongst a bunch of other issues, but in Canada they lack a clear target. It is pretty easy for people to identify the financial institutions of Wall Street as the ones that caused the financial crisis of 2008 and the resulting recessions/depression we are still fighting. Having a clear target as a rallying point allowed for people of all political/ideological backgrounds to band together to protest one evil across the United States. In Canada that target doesn't really exist. Our banks and financial institutions are more tightly regulated and were not bailed out with tax payer money, they are not foreclosing homes and kicking people out on the street. You could argue that the government is that target but I would counter, we elected them and there is no need to protest just simply vote next election as you probably should have in the last. I think its this lack of clear target that has hindered the movement here, I would argue even rendering it pointless.

Cody Ellis

11/21/2011 06:45:51 pm

Calgary's Mayor Nenshi (who I love and voted for) ran and won stating that one of his 'Better Ideas' was campaign finance reform, to prevent corporations from influencing the political process.

That is one of the central ideas of the Occupy Wall Street movement and as an extension the other Occupy movements.

Why has he not stood up for that issue and given at least a crum of acknowledgment to this concerned group of protestors. How could he ignore such a glaringly obvious connection???

The way most Calgarians refer to these people makes me sick.

I live in New York City now and was at Occupy Wall Street when the city raided us. I'm embarrassed my fellow Calgarians have been so shallow and mean towards these people.

CalgaryGirl

12/12/2011 01:38:45 am

Let's look at history for a momment. For thousands of years, there have always been homeless, poor, uneducated, politically oppressed, and economically denied.

You are living in a dreamworld if you honestly believe that we can a) eliminate poverty all over the world at one time, b) educate everyone on the planet right now, today, c) stop using petroleum immediately...since most of the products in your home, on your body, on your face, in your bath, kitchen, living room, your car (dashboard, seasts, seatcovers) utilizes petroleum-based elements, which actually bubbles out of the ground in Northern Alberta like Jed Clampett!), d) everyone on this planet meeting their heirarchy of needs (level one), and even second and third. As long as someone is starving from being denied food out of warring factions (Somalia for example), mental illness, lack of education, or simply lack of drive or confidence, e) eliminate or decimate the rich or force them to give up their money to the poor, who spend (or not) their monies (old or new) on real estate, caviar or sex kittens in Vegas. Their money, their business. Period.

The best chance you have is to out them individually through bad PR. Public pressure always forces some aspect of change...look at Maria Anoinette and King Louis. Look at what happened with Rockefeller.

There was this debate last week about a group of right guys in the states that won the lottery. The talk was, should they have won because they were already rich. Who are we to judge...really. The people who were judging were either jealous that they did not win, or upset that the little guy (which they emotionally relate to) didn't win. Very human. But how does anyone know what these guys are going to do with the monies. Maybe they'll contribute to an organization that needs the money.

Attitude, not aptitutde, determines your altitude. One of the most frustrating experiences with this was my sons best friend's mother, who would call me three to five times a day at one point complaining that she didn't have a job, had two diplomas from Mount Royal, and stayed in bed for hours and days because she felt she just wasn't understood. She had a pity story about not being loved enough by her parents and used that as an excuse to NOT CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY. She wanted to write full time, but she wanted to write on her terms, not taking orders from an editor or any authority. Her feelings were hurt when someone turned down her story ideas. So she just ditched her efforts. I told her several times to get off her duff, get a full time job that pays the bills and look after her son, and then write online or publish her own works, but she stated she couldn't afford to do that because she wanted to get paid for her work, because she deserved it.

Today, she's shaving dogs and walking horses. And she's not writing. But she's taking care of her son and herself, and she's living in a less stressful situation.

Calgary is THE most giving city in Canada, people contributing their time as well as their money (which they make a lot of) to hundreds of charities through their own pockets or through companies. People are busier, and often give money as opposed to time. At least they give that.

I talked to a few people who were either occupying the park downtown in Calgary. A couple of them quit their jobs and found solace in the people in the movement (they quit their jobs because they wanted to escape the capitalism that keeps them fed...and honestly talked about becoming monks...seriously). They also cut down their parents "giving in to the capitalized values", which actually helped to pay for their post-secondary education. These individuals were part of the movement, but they were wanting to be heard for their own stories. Everyone's got a hard luck story. It depends on what you do with the experience. Wanna sit there and whine that you have to work for a boss? Build your own business and change the ethics and values that have driven most big business. That's what I did. Wanna be a monk and escape the world and live in a cave pondering the universe? Go for it, and let me know how that works for you...oh, and for your neighbour who needs a hand up.

Seriously people, do you honestly think that the economic implosion and revolutions happening worldwide wasn't going to create a backlash in several ways?

Strangely, a friend of mine does astrology, and he saw this "spring" coming three years ago. Look at the revoluions that are happening even in Alberta and Canada...the NDP become the loyal opposition, a woman is elected premier, Nenshi is mayor (going up against older guard and traditional individuals). Span outwards and see the change happening worldwide. I believe this is meant to happen, and we just have to bear down and get through it, perhaps choosing to change some of the things we do to help others and keep things honest. That's the positive side to this monumental change.

Life requres us to stay on all the time,

Jeffry house

1/26/2012 02:11:10 am

Yes, they marginalized the message so much that Obama took it up in his state of the union address.

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Why I'm Angry and Disappointed with the "Occupy" Movement

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