If we ask random people whether they like the government doing its job, some would support the government, however others would judge the government and would even protest against its power. This unhappiness with the government was happening over history and even with blood to get rid of the Institute that cannot make citizens pleased. The Occupy Wall Street is a group of people that want Wall Street not to be so powerful as it has supporters in the US government. [RS1] I believe that the protestors want to make a revolution to improve the quality of their lives. Over the history a lot of revolutions happened and most of them were not having positive results. People didn't benefit from October Revolution, Orange Revolution, Arab Spring [RS2] instead their life became worse. And so Occupy Wall Street will not bring any positive changes instead it would grow the chaos in the country.[RS3]
The movement Occupy Wall Street movement is pretty young it started on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over United States cities and further all over the world. The "Occupants" are opposing the power of major banks, corporations and the role of Wall Street in creating an the greatest recession[RS4]. The movement was inspired by protests that took place in the Arabic countries which had received the name Arab Spring[RS5].
The some of the reasons for this movement to take place are world crisis that is still going on, the cutoffs, unemployment, taxes. The protestors are students, teachers, workers and unemployed citizens who facing difficulties through the government inability to stimulate the economy, so that it the reason why they started to protest. The Occupy Movement want to have a better life like all the people but they blame the Wall Street in their problems. One of the main slogans of the Occupy Wall Street is: "We are 99%", by this slogan they mean that 99% of population is normal people who are suffering from 1% which are rich, and these rich people parasitize on 99% of the country population. Basically 1% are banks and large corporations that are supported by the government.
The movement doesn't have leader. [RS6] And the main tactic is sit-on protests near the Wall Street, these sit-on spread all over the country's important institutions. And even the protestors went to Washington DC to the Capitol with their protests. The protests that has started in New York inspired people all over the world to fight for their rights and try to have a better life compared to how they live now.
The movement Occupy Wall Street had grown very quickly and we can see how the protests had spread all over the U.S. and other countries of the world. Even though the most of Americans are still uncertain about the movement activities and goals. But we can see that 1% of the population are afraid of 99% of poor. Mayor Bloomberg doesn't allow protestors to occupy Zuccoti Park over night and cops are taking people to the police office. And in order not to suffer from these people, some of rich are pretending that they support the OWS movement, for instance celebrities driving limos and wearing expensive [RS7] jewelry like Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore and Roseanne Barr, Kanye West.
Some people think that the movement should be rejected due to the couple of reasons such as unclear agenda that some want free education, other want the forgiveness of the debt. Arrests is another reason, the crowds ignore city ordinances about over-night camping on public property. Thousand of people were arrested in New York for blocking the Brooklyn Bridge, causing the traffic problems for other[RS8]. Also unpatriotism, anti-semitism, and extremism are in the list of the reasons to reject the movement. [RS9]
In my opinion when the movement doesn't have the leader it is going to collapse or if not there will be no result. [RS10] As due to the decentralized organization the movement cannot find the concrete goals and means to achieve them, which is going to result in failure. [RS11] We can see it on the example of Occupy Wall Street. They want a better life but how they can get it? If they get rid of Wall Street how they would benefit, and what would be the consequences from it? Even though I don't like what is going on the world and I would like to make life better, but revolution would not help in achieving the goal instead it would spread chaos or no changes. It was shown in the past by October Revolution, Orange Revolution, Arab Spring. Even though the protestors had won, but did they benefit? And was it worth it?[RS12]
The main purposes of October Revolution were low wages, unemployment and increase cost of living. Bolsheviks, wanted to create the working class and get rid from nobles, were getting more supporter from workers, soldiers and peasants through their propaganda that was made in the factories and other public places about making the live better by getting rid from Provisional Government. Bolsheviks had promised equality among the people. Red Guards which were the army of revolution were formed from the supporters and consisted of workers and partially of soldiers and sailors. They were taking food supplies under control and also houses, people who didn't listen to their orders were executed on the streets. Also Red Guards were fighting against White Guards that opposed future Soviet power. Commanders and nobles that didn't want to give up or give the property were executed. The October Revolution began in St. Petersburg on 7-8 of November 1917 in the capital of Russia, and quickly spread to the rest of the country. During the morning of November 7, Red Guards seized strategically important railroads and power stations, communication facilities, bridges, key government buildings, and the State bank without bloodshed. They also captured the Winter Palace, which was defended by meager, demoralized, forces. As the result of October Revolution Bolsheviks had won and arrested the Provisional Government and later the country was under control of Bolsheviks and it allowed them to set the Communism and built USSR. The winning of Reds resulted in monopolization of the factories and productions by the government also getting rid from the private property to make all people equal. They had destroyed private banks and the government turned all the gold from private banks in its own. People could get food only with food cards, which meant that all people get the same amount of food and same type of food. Also one of the consequences of the October Revolution was the Civil War in the country. As Red Guards were the main weapon of new regime they were trying to spread Communism in all the parts of ex Russian Empire, while White Guards were trying not to let Red Army to do so. There is one positive consequence of October Revolution to my mind, wages became fixed at higher rates and shorter eight-hour working day was introduced for workers[RS13].
Orange Revolution took place in Ukraine on 22 November-26 December 2004. During this period Kiev the capital of the country was occupied with protestors of the President election results. According to the Central Election Commission the winner of the elections was Victor Yanucovich who was prime minister before the elections, and the other candidate Victor Yushenko lost. But the people were unhappy with Central Election Commission as it was obvious that Yushenko was more supported by the country compared to Yanukovich. There are also several reasons for the protest: 1)Yanukovich wanted Ukraine to join Eurasian Economic Community which was headed by Russia and consisted of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Ukrainians didn't want to join the EEC as they thought that Russia tries to build USSSR 2.0 2) Low salaries, pensions, scholarships. When the CEC said that the winner was Yanukovich a lot of people went on the city streets to protest against CEC decision. The protests were taking places almost in the whole country. People were shouting that elections were corrupted and started their sit-on protest in cities. The revolution is called orange because orange color was related to the Yushenko and his party. People from different cities around the country started to arrive in Independence Square in Kiev the capital to show that they disagree with the elections results. With every day the amount of the people in Independence Square was growing and it grew to couple of millions. These people were living in the tents for the whole month and finally On 3rd December 2004 the Ukraine Supreme Court annulled the results of second tour of the elections and revote was scheduled on 26th of December. By the revote the orange candidate Victor Yushenko had won the elections and became third president of Ukraine. In my opinion the revolution didn't give anything to people of Ukraine. As the result of the Orange revolution people had received a "democratic" president that didn't do anything for people during his presidency instead he sold strategically important factories, the relationship with Russia became worse which turned into the increase in prices for gas, but he increased salaries a little bit, however the prices increased significantly, so people didn't benefit from the revolution at all[RS14] [RS15].
Arab Spring are the protest that took place in various countries of the Arabic World. This protests started on December 17 2010 in Tunisia and with time spread around. Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old fruit-and-vegetable vendor in Tunisia earned barely enough to support his family. Municipal[RS16] inspector tried to confiscate Bouazizi unlicensed goods on December 17 and slapped him. Trying to complain to municipal officials didn't give any result, so he went to the governor's office, doused himself with inflammable liquid, and set himself on fire. This incident set off a wave of protests in Tunisia, as people were frustrated with their government, their poverty. On January 14, the number of protesting had risen in Tunisia and dictator Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who was president of Tunisia for 23 years, left the country[RS17]. Protesters won, and it inspired the other Arab countries, where people facing similar problems such as: repressive regimes, poverty, unemployment and corruption among the rulers. With help of Internet and Mass Media the protests took place in Egypt with similar consequences for protestors, they won and the President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak left his post. Furthermore people in other Arabic countries had realized that they can fight and win like Egypt and Tunisia and filled with this idea the protest flared up in Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen. The most significant conflict during Arab Spring took place in Libya, which was ruled by Muammar el-Qaddafi for 42 years. The protests among the Qaddafi's opponents and supporters had turned into civil war. NATO and other countries started air and sea strikes against the Qaddafi government as he didn't want to neither give up the power nor leave his post. Civil War turned into bloodshed among the supporters of his regime and rebellions. Qaddafi was killed during this war and his body was reached by the rebellions. As the result of the Arab Spring the "democracy " was built, and still people's life didn't improve for better as they don't know how to do it even though they had solved the main problem of the country, they got rid from the tyrant. Still people are trying to survive as this democracy had created even more and "freedom" compared how it was under the Dictators control[RS18] [RS19].
The Occupy Wall Street is movement that has grown in popularity over a couple of months. It gained more supporters in all over United States and all over the world, where people are occupying important governmental institutions with sit on. But my main point of view is that there are two possible scenarios. One the movement get more people and find the exact goals and means to pursue them and succeed. Or they will collapse due to different factors such as the government would not let them to move from sit on to actions. [RS20] These movement want to change the government completely but they don't know how to do it. In my opinion these people want to start a revolution and take everything from rich and share it among poor like Robin hood did, but it will not work as the Robin Hood is just a tale with happy ending, but real life is different story. This would not stop the crisis and cut offs. It would cause even more problems than these people are facing now as any action has possible consequences positive or negative[RS21].
Over the history revolutions didn't make people life better instead they caused problems and made people questioning themselves "Why did we do it as now it is even worse than before?" [RS22] I think [RS23] that some people after October Revolution were unhappy with equality that they received. Getting food by food-cards, having equal salary and no private property, being executed from hiding a loaf of bread was it worth it? The regime that was brought by Bolsheviks collapsed in 70 years and peoples life became even worse compared to how it was before the Revolution took place. Orange Revolution was enormous lie for Ukrainian people, as they believed that Yushenko would improve their lives by executing his promises, but instead he had caused even more political and economical problems to Ukraine than he did good. And people who stood in Independence Square think "Was it worth it?" [RS24] "We could benefit more without the Orange Revolution than with it." Or protestors of Arabic World how did they benefit from the Arab Spring? Except disposing their tyrant. Did they need this kind of democracy terror that they gained? Being afraid to go outside the house to be shot in the civil war. "Was it worth it?"
The same thing is going to happen with Occupy Wall Street revolution there will be less positive consequences compared to the number of negative effects from the movement[RS25]. The movement will bring chaos in the country. And people are going to suffer of even worse unemployment percentage than now. I believe that people should not protest against the government instead they should try to adapt to the difficulties in their lives.[RS26] If they want to find the job they must do something for it and not blame the government and Wall Street. For instance increase their qualification by getting Masters Degree. Or instead being unemployed find a job even low-paid. This would let people to overcome the difficult period of World Crisis. Because the Economy newer stays in the same place, as it moves thought the cycles of expansion (growth) and contraction (recession). We are facing recession which means that economy is going to be in stage of growth with time, so we should just wait and try to adapt.
To conclude the revolution will not make people beneficial and they are going to face even more hardships with the consequences of it, as I have shown on the examples of October Revolution, Orange Revolution and Arab Spring. Destroying the system is easy but improving or building new is much harder. Protestors on Wall Street should try to find a job and overcome the contraction cycle of economy. When the economical situation will improve for better they will be able to find a job they deserve. They should just wait.
I was unable to access the encyclopedia so I was unable to make citation. But I wrote down the template and I will do all my work cited for the revised version.
Works Cited
"Top 10 Reasons to Reject Occupy Wall Street." Human Events, 10/31/2011, Vol. 67 Issue 37, p26-26, Points of View Reference Center. 25 Nov. 2011 <http://search.ebscohost.com.cwplib.proxy.liu.edu/>
<http://occupywallst.org/> 25 Nov. 2011
Author(s) of article. "Title of Article." Title of Encyclopedia. Ed. Name of Editor(s). Edition if available. Volume number. City of publication: Publisher, Year of publication. Name of Database. Medium consulted. Date of access.
