Occupy Wallstreet
bus309 – business ethics | Week 4 Assignment 1 | Occupy Wall Street Movement | |
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Some people say that the Occupy Wall Street movement mirrored the unrest and protest that defined an entire generation in the 60s and 70s. While the flower child movement of thirty years ago dealt primarily with the invasion of Vietnam and a war not supported by the American people, the Occupy movement was centered on economic inequality in the number one superpower in the world, the United States. Protestors participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement relate mostly to moral law. That is to say that the roots of their arguments centered around the good of the majority, rather than the good of the rich which is what seemed to be the main concern of those running the country at the time. The rampant income inequality across the board in America was the main focal point of the Occupy movement, and wealth distribution came under scrutiny as protestors brought it to the forefront of local and national media. Many believed that there would be no end to the movement given the American capitalistic society, and that sentiment has been supported by the movement spreading to other influential American cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. The Occupy Wall Street movement began in New York City in Zuccotti Park. (Gautney, 2011) The Occupy slogan of “We are the 99%” referred to the main point of the protest which was the severe income gap between the richest Americans and the middle class. Income inequality levels in 2010, the year before the initial Occupy protest were at their highest levels since the Great Depression. (Blodget, 2013) While this in and of itself was a serious enough issue, the massive salary gap between the richest American’s and the majority of the country was no secret in prior years. It is believed that it wasn’t until after the economic struggle in 2007 that it had become clear to the masses that something was amiss. The American
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Some people say that the Occupy Wall Street movement mirrored the unrest and protest that defined an entire generation in the 60s and 70s. While the flower child movement of thirty years ago dealt primarily with the invasion of Vietnam and a war not supported by the American people, the Occupy movement was centered on economic inequality in the number one superpower in the world, the United States. Protestors participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement relate mostly to moral law. That is to say that the roots of their arguments centered around the good of the majority, rather than the good of the rich which is what seemed to be the main concern of those running the country at the time. The rampant income inequality across the board in America was the main focal point of the Occupy movement, and wealth distribution came under scrutiny as protestors brought it to the forefront of local and national media. Many believed that there would be no end to the movement given the American capitalistic society, and that sentiment has been supported by the movement spreading to other influential American cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. The Occupy Wall Street movement began in New York City in Zuccotti Park. (Gautney, 2011) The Occupy slogan of “We are the 99%” referred to the main point of the protest which was the severe income gap between the richest Americans and the middle class. Income inequality levels in 2010, the year before the initial Occupy protest were at their highest levels since the Great Depression. (Blodget, 2013) While this in and of itself was a serious enough issue, the massive salary gap between the richest American’s and the majority of the country was no secret in prior years. It is believed that it wasn’t until after the economic struggle in 2007 that it had become clear to the masses that something was amiss. The American