Monday, October 17, 2011
Zuccotti Park, Lower Manhattan
When I drew my assignment to return to Zuccotti Park for coverage of the Occupy Wall St. protests, I was once again ambivalent. I've been there about a half-dozen times already and wasn't sure what else we could say about it that was unique. We really don't do "human interest" stories but stick mostly to hard news. So, with this in mind, it is a bit more difficult to find a truly unique story nearly every day. Plus, and I do want to be fair and clear on this, so many of the people are so eccentric that it can be more difficult to get a truly usable, coherent interview than people realize! Still, and certainly visually, there is SO march going on in the park that it's hard to MISS a story. From what I have witnessed, the crowds in the park remain large, vocal, and steadfast about being there. The diversity of the crowd has grown and, with that diversity, a vast array of POV's and causes are being voiced. It really is quite remarkable.
I was there in the first week and have now been there for the fourth, and I have seen no sign of this thing faltering or wavering. In fact, the over-all success (I abhored the violence in Rome) of this weekend's world-wide solidarity marches only bolstered Occupy Wall St.'s position.
Although resonating with so many people, they have to get beyond the preaching to the choir stage. By that I mean that they have been effective in reaching their core demographic. Now they have to use that base to attack the head; the corporations whose greed far exceeds their contributions to either the economy or society. Let me elucidate. While channel surfing late last night (waiting for South Park re-runs, of course!) I came across the wonderfully comic and acerbic The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His guest was investigative reporter Ellen Schultz who was there to promote her new book, Retirement Heist: How Companies Plunder and Profit . . . The book basically states the case that large corporations (she names names in the book) have legally but immorally plundered and largely mismanaged their employee retirement funds into the ground. The book claims that these companies have managed (or MISMANAGED) these funds from a multi-billion dollar surplus to struggling to survive. And, of course, the COMPANIES claim that it is the unrealistic pension demands of the workers and unions causing the problems while not revealing that BILLIONS of dollars of workers' pension money was put aside to create golden parachute compensation packages for departing executives!! Did you know that the COMPANIES can legally use their workers' pension fund to purchase life insurance on each worker and claim itself as the beneficiary?! And it's perfectly legal. And there's more, much more. (Please Google Ms. Schultz or the book by its title for more detailed information).
WTF?! This is exactly the kind of shit that Occupy Wall St. is fighting against! People have to get beyond the drum circles, the jugglers, the face-painters and see the MESSAGE for what it really is: virtually ALL working people are being taken advantage of in ways they'll never know. Large corporations will tell you that by providing jobs, they are providing a true public service. Large companies drive the economy. Of course, this is true in part, but make no mistake about it:companies are motivated by self-interest. And that self-interest is motivated by profit. And when that is your prime motivation, then you are susceptible to the most base of human emotion: GREED. Ultimately, by the very nature of the word business their mission is TO BE PROFITABLE. And the more PROFITABLE YOU ARE, the more SUCCESSFUL you are judged. Put two and two together and you realize that this can only lead to abuse of the system. And it has. We have to change the mind set of profit over people. Yes, PROFIT is good, but PEOPLE are better. This is my message.
These people in the park, despite their many eccentricities are on YOUR side! They are saying that it's time for ALL of us to wake up and stop this corporate madness! Unless you are the CEO or other top executive of a Fortune 500 Company (LOOK at the name "Fortune"), it is in YOUR best interest to do so!
Here are some of the most recent photos that I made at the park:
The NYPD is vigilant but I have not witnessed any abuse by them.
Interesting POV!
As I said, DIVERSE causes.
Another.
And another.
All Kinds.
The "library" that has been set up in the park.
The view down Liberty St. from Broadway.
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