Forum Post: Central Theme

As we continue to occupy Wall Street, Philadelphia, and many other cities across the country and the world we must continue to analyze the situation we are in. Why are we so damned mad? How did we get here? Who's responsible? And how in the hell do we change it all?

I believe we've started to address some of these and many other questions but I fear-after occupying Wall Street myself-we are in danger of gathering up our strength to swing that hammer down, only to miss the nail completely and maybe even smash our thumbs in the process.

Okay. So, we've identified the problem: greed. But who's responsible? "Wall Street"? "Corporate America"? "Government"? The countless signs being waved around would certainly say "yes" to all of the above, but this is where we are in danger of missing the head of the nail. Sure, corporate greed (and the government that perpetuates it through ridiculous legislature) is a good place to start but why aren't we digging a little deeper?

Wall Street isn't some mythical monster who has invaded our country, destroying everything we hold dear. The mythical monster is our society and each of us holds varying degrees of responsibility for its destruction.

Wall Street and our government are populated by people, people who have grown up in the same system and economy we all have. What is the purpose of our society and our lives? Is it simply to make more money? To have more stuff? To be entertained?

How many of us waste our lives away in front of a T.V. or a game console? How many of us drink our paychecks away? When we go shopping do we buy the cheap, unhealthy food in order to have more money for those hip new threads, that nice watch, or that current model car? Do we look at each other through greedy eyes as objects to be had? Where do OUR priorites lie? Would we rather vote on American Idol than vote for something that really affects our lives? Wall Street is our society's greed and selfishness on a larger scale.

Do we really think that we are that different from the current targets of our anger? We blame all of these CEOs for greed when we are just as guilty! They wouldn't be able to screw with our money if we didn't give it up to them so willingly!

If we valued compassion and each other as much as we did money and ourselves, our society WOULD change. Sure, we could throw those Goldman Sachs criminals in prison but until we change the root of the problem (the values of our selfish society) someone else would jump right in to find/make more loopholes to exploit.

Change yourself. Live life with purpose. Don't waste away in a meaningless existence. If you live your life like a sheep, someone's bound to come along and play the wolf.

Let's take this opportunity to create a new, meaningful age. I love you all.

-Adam