Occupy Oakland 2

An analysis of the Occupy Wall Street movement

OWS, Occupy Wall Street, is a protest campaign that originated in NYC. Protesters occupy public spaces to protest, primarily, the failures of the United States government.

Inspired by the Spring uprising that led to the fall of tyrannical regimes in Africa and The Middle East. Americans are now gathering in these public spaces to protest; and, as their ranks continue to swell, there has been some evolution in the protesters message .

The original, primary message, the message that resonates around the nation with Occupy Baltimore, Occupy Chicago, Occupy Washington DC, and even Occupy Nyack NY, this message is a protest of the disproportionate  increase in corporate profit during a major economic crisis, a protest against government bailouts, the continuation of corporate bonuses to companies bailed out on the back of taxpayers, and the influence of corporate money in political campaigns.

The protests are still growing, still being organized, and the debate expanding.

The Journal has, from its inception, supported the primary message of promoting American interests. It is reasonable then for The Journal to encourage residents to Occupy Oakland, NJ.

This can be accomplished without any organization, without any schedule, and with little effort. Occupy Oakland can be accomplished by local residents shopping local when they can, to think local first, to believe in the importance of their local economy, and to support local business.

While some protesters occupying Wall Street can easily site the greed of certain corporations, the irresponsibility of certain industries, and the corruption of a political campaign system too reliant on the flow of lobbyists, corporate contributions, and large donors – there are few easily implemented solutions.

Think Local First, is one that should be promoted.

The economic and political systems on which America are based are far from perfect, but they have proven themselves to be the best in practice. The ideals of modern democracy, born out of the Age of Enlightenment, have brought justice, fairness, and progress to much of the world. It took a nation born 235 years ago and made it a super power, leader of the world.

In the same vein, the Age of Enlightenment gave birth to the basis upon which we justify the practice of capitalism. The reliance on the self-interest of the individual to engage in business and commerce, and in turn provide services and products of value that appeal to other individuals.

Our understanding of capitalism was defined over 300 years ago by philosophers, teachers, and authors, and based on the their understanding of the world as it existed. The father of modern capitalism, Adam Smith, wrote The Wealth of Nations, which was not a treatise on a global economy, but on how individual nations can build their own wealth.

This theory served America well as corporations and individuals usually shared common goals, shared a wealth that often stayed in America. It served America.

The concept of capitalism losses stock when it is applied on a global scale. The moral element of being a corporate citizen has fallen by the wayside as companies routinely seek to move manufacturing and service industries overseas. The philosophy of capitalism, as promoted during the Age of Enlightenment, does not exist in today’s global economy. We have lost the common bond that made capitalism work, building the wealth of a nation – one nation. Not all nations.

And it holds a direct threat to America’s sustainability as a world leader. The mind set that seeks to turn Americans into a nation of consumers, while bleeding it of profit, bleeding it of a manufacturing base, and shipping its jobs overseas, is not sustainable.

Smith’s caution in preferential trade agreements between nations, especially favoring the importation of foreign goods from one nation over another, shows little concern over the inhabitants of the foreign nation. It is concern about the individual nation – is it in the best economic interests of the individual nation.

Having built an economy based on the capitalist theories developed by Smith, we need to review whether they still work in a global economy. Is the economic self-interest of the American nation served by a globalization that markets ‘free trade’ with no recognition of ‘fair trade’? Do some corporations see only a global workforce, a global economy, and global self-interests?

Right now, Americans are protesting and seeking justice for Americans. That is a good thing

The primary call of the Occupy Wall Street movement is to put America first, as we have always done throughout our history.

So, for those readers who support that primary message, Occupy Oakland….Think local, Occupy Main Street, not Wall Street, by supporting local business.