By: Marx Calderon / Contributing Writer
There are more than 100 cities across the United States that are being occupied by protesters. These occupations have stemmed from the Occupy Wall Street movement against corporate greed, government corruption, and student loan debt, among other grievances.
The movement itself has spurred from the economic recession that has the unemployment rate at 9.1 percent and citizens unable to repay debt.
The Occupy movement has recently hit Miami spurring a march of about 1,000 people from Bayside Park to the Government Center. This is an opportunity for Miami-Dade citizens and University students to voice their concerns over the current economic crisis and be a part of a group that is growing across the nation.
The Occupy movement has been gaining relevance from the mainstream media but has been criticized for not having a clear, coherent message. The main message is change.
Citizens are fed up with the way the government operates with significant influence from corporations. Although some see the movement as a fad with no real political clout, I see this as an opportunity for political mobilization and an avenue for significant change. In order to realistically make an impact in government operations, citizens must go to the polls.
A common misconception about the United States’s electoral system is that the President is the most powerful figure and can implement his own ideas. As we have seen with President Barack Obama, change is not possible without legislative support.
The Occupy movement must mobilize voters at the local level in order to vote in the House and Senate, if there is to be any chance of change in the current operations in our society.
An overhaul of representation in Washington D.C. should be the main focus of those who support the Occupy movement.
The more recent Tea Party movement demonstrated its political influence by voting in a majority of House Representatives that reflect their ideals. It is ironic that the Occupy movement should follow the footsteps of the Tea Party movement.
The two movements are very similar in that they mobilized to express anger within the political system and have done so without individual leadership. Although the Occupy movement is still in its early stages, it can develop into a political force such as the Tea Party.
Political analyst, Andy Ostroy, highlights this sentiment by writing “… [The Tea Party] is a movement that mobilized quickly, sending 63 Congressmen to Washington to legislate its hardcore agenda. They’ve successfully transformed how government is working right now and they influence every politician from Eric Cantor to President Obama. Occupy Wall Street’s leaders would be wise to follow a similar path to relevancy.”
The first test to determine whether the Occupy movement is a true political threat will be this coming November where there will be 33 congressional seats up for grabs.
Ultimately, if the movement is to be taken seriously by the elite, they must mobilize supporters to register and go vote in order to have a chance at implementing significant change.
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