The Winter of Our Discontent
By Ernesto Caivano
The following 7 questions were proposed to a diverse range of people at “Occupy Wall Street”. They were between the ages of 16 and 80. Their race, gender and class were mixed. Their occupations ranged from students, to teachers, to mechanics to squatters. I asked each of them what economic bracket they were raised in and where they fell currently.
My questions were conducted casually and written down for brevity, although discussions lasted for much longer. It took me all day to get seven people on paper. Everyone agreed to speak to me, except one shy person who was passing by. No one there, nor outside the area designated as “Occupy Wall Street,” opposed, or rejected inquiry and in fact encouraged an open dialogue that seemed to lack a slanted point of view one would assume to find at a rally. I wouldn’t even call the gathering a “rally” at all, but a building of knowledge and an interchange of ideas where people from all walks of life have a chance to question and participate in an activity seemingly long lost: a genuine desire to learn how to be human and evolve into the ever-growing global arena/stage that is our current world.
I asked 7 questions. My first question was “What is your greatest frustration or complaint with American politics?” and one of the men I interviewed suggested I change the last word to “people”. This resonated with me as a missing piece. The demonstrators and their supporters have been accused of having no real center – no real movement. There is certainly discontent and finger pointing in every direction. With this polite correction from “American politics” to “American people” it became clear that the main goal is to redefine our separation from what is “outside” of us, like a corporation, or a two-way political system, attributed to controlling our freedom, and instead to evolve as a society where creative diversity and freedom of thought are harvested for the nourishing of what everyone defines as personal and human wealth.
Profiles on the seven people interviewed:
Hal (mid 40s) raised in a lower class American home currently considers himself of a lower class economic standing. Occupation: bicycle mechanic
Eleanore (age 30) raised in a lower class American home currently considers herself of a middle class economic standing. Occupation: photographer/actress
John (age 21) raised in a middle class American home currently considers himself of a lower class economic standing. Occupation: philosopher and computer programmer
Andrew (age 26) raised in a middle class American home currently considers himself of an upper class economic standing (in the 1%). Occupation: entertainer/musician
Captain Chilligan (age 17) n/a – n/a
Anonymous (age 65-80) This was a group of three Senior Citizens who decided to answer collectively. They all considered themselves currently of a middle class economic standing. One woman shared her occupation as the administrative director of a nonprofit organization.
Anonymous (age 32) – raised in a middle class American home currently considers herself of a lower class economic standing. Occupation: Artist
What is your greatest frustration or complaint with American politics?
Hal: 40 years of over-seas job exportation.
Eleanore: Health Care
John: Taking away individualism and the acceptance of the notion
Andrew: Economic Inequality
Captain Chilligan: Centralized power
Anonymous: Power inequity
Anonymous: Hypocrisy – a system that inherently creates distrust
Why are you here, what made you come down?
Hal: Had not attended yet.
Eleanore: Curiosity
John: To protect the future of your children (all children)
Andrew: Forming Energy
Captain Chilligan: Raising awareness
Anonymous: Disgusted with CEO of non-profit system (unnamed)
Anonymous: N/A
What do you hope this will achieve?
Hal: Balance of wealth
Eleanore: Keeps growing until laws are changed
John: Intellectual awakening
Andrew: Spiritual voice
Captain Chilligan: FEMA
Anonymous: Support
Anonymous: Create awareness by paying more attention at lies and misinformation
Is there anyone who has crystallized the common thread among people here?
Hal: No
Eleanore: No
John: Many people
Andrew: No
Captain Chilligan: Jesse
Anonymous: No
Anonymous: No
Are these the right questions to ask? Or what questions would you like to see proposed?
Hal: Yes
Eleanore: Yes
John: Replace in the first question “American politics” with “American People”
Andrew: Yes
Captain Chilligan: Yes
Anonymous: What really needs to change? Where will the “movement” go? How far would you go?
Anonymous: Why is it important to fight the “system” as a “cult”
What news sources do you trust?
Hal: WNYC
Eleanore: NPR
John: Via Internet, directly through other citizens, bypassing the press.
Andrew: Huffington Post and Drudge Report
Captain Chilligan: Andrew: Direct Voice
Anonymous: None
Anonymous: BBC
How do you define personal/human wealth?
Hal: Inner value
Eleanore: What you own internally
John: Personal experience/growth with whatever is your passion
Andrew: Spiritual values (human interactions, creative spirit)
Captain Chilligan: Human connection
Anonymous: Standard of life; Human capital; Material assets
Anonymous: Money is irrelevant – state of mind