Occupy San Diego – Who are the 99% ?

I learned something today, and because of that today was a good day.  This afternoon I headed down to the Civic Center to check out how the Occupy Movement was progressing there and to inform myself a bit more on what it stood for.  It was a typical 70 degree sunny and warm San Diego day and the plaza was filled with a pretty diverse crowd.  Occupy San Diego is comprised of 8-10 camping tents, about 150 or so protestors, 15-20 police officers and 10-15 tourist – everyone seemingly getting along in what appears to be  a very cooperative culture.  For those of you that know me, you know I support the Occupy Wall Street movement because of the greed fraud and corruption that I witnessed first hand working as a fraud consultant to the industry.  I support the movement because one of its central philosophies is that the government and big time wall street executives have a relationship that is too cozy.

What I learned today was just how difficult organizing a movement that represents 99% of the population of the US.  The economic grievances that US citizens feel is so pervasive, so widespread that there are literally hundreds of different causes and groups that should have a voice with the movement.  Quite literally there is so much economic inequality between the mega rich and the rest of us that it touches just about everything in our lives.  What I did see today was that the people protesting were interested in including each and every single person and listening to what they had to say – the drunk, the homeless, the destitute, the unemployed, the forgotten, the left behind.  Now people might criticize the Occupancy movement for not having a targeted agenda – but what they did stand for – at least what I saw was treating all people as equals no matter how much they made or how little they appeared to contribute to society.

One of my favorite signs that I saw said.  “This piece of cardboard is the only lobbyist I could afford”.  To me that said it all.  Corporations spend millions to put politicians in their back pocket –  a capability and luxury that no individual in the 99% can afford.  This movement is that piece of cardboard – the message on the sign.  The occupy movement is the populist means to lobby are government officials and tell them what we think.  We may not have millions to donate to their campaigns but quite honestly should we.  We may not own the newspapers or media outlets that the wealthiest in this country own but that does not mean we don’t have  a message or a voice.  About 60% of Americans now support the occupy movement, and that support has not come through main stream media but through blogs, word of mouth, Facebook and other alternative forms of social networking.  Not surprisingly the same way that many of the successful revolutions in the middle east were started in the past year.

Take a look at the gallery pictures to get a sense of what is going on with Occupy San Diego.  I am actually pretty proud that we have people that stood up and did this in our great city.

http://www.frankiefoto.com/BlackWhite/Occupy-San-Diego/19775416_4b8gLq