Goalless Activism

"Hey man, I just want like to end greed man."

I won’t bore you with facts about my life since it’s really not that exciting but I happen to work on “Wall Street” in some capacity.  I use quotes on “Wall Street” since the firm that I currently work at isn’t actually located on the street, but it is part of the “street” at large.  I am by no means a titan of industry or self described master of the universe.  I am not in a position to make any financial decisions which would impact faceless individuals or the economy.  I don’t make millions of dollars a year trading exotic (and barely legal or understandable) financial instruments.  I’m just a worker bee in this shitty world trying to get my slice of the pie.  So excuse while I rant a little about these dirty hippie protesting assholes giving me shit during my day.

I’m not sure how you operate but it takes every fiber of my being not to stomp the creeping Jesus out of some dread locked white boy telling me I’m going to hell for being greedy as I walk to work.  So because I’m wearing a suit and tie I’m going to burn for my sins huh?  I didn’t realize earning a paycheck was evil, but thanks for the commentary.  And really, I’m in a no win situation.  How are you going to go after some pacifist who may or may not have lice?  No one wants “beat hippie to a bloody pulp” on their permanent record.  It’s like being the skinny kid at fat camp – you might win at the contests, but really, did you win?

More problematic, no one has given any clear indication of why they are protesting.  There have been some vague comments made by Kashi-enthusiasts about “greed” and “corruption”.  But now word is coming out that the message of these protests have been expanded to include foreclosure prevention, climate change, and various other social and justice related issues.  Confounding things further, these issues are being lumped under the umbrella being called “occupy Wall Street” which has apparently expanded to other cities around the country.  Because you know, indirectly Wall Street is responsible for the ills in the world, including albino alligators and paper cuts.

Now I’m not an idiot (despite my writing deficiency and grammar of a 6^th grader) and realize that things aren’t all that fucking peachy in the good ole US of A.  I’m all for a good shit raising.  We should be getting in touch with our inner contrarians and asking more of those in positions of power.  I’m all for trying to achieve some sort of equality or asking for change.  But for fuck sake, have a clear message.  Have a clear, defined agenda that you can talk to.  Have clear *goals* in mind for what you want to achieve.  Stop harassing normal working folk just trying to get through their day with limited homicidal thoughts.  Stop perpetuating the image of yourselves as dirty, tree hugging vagabonds.  And for the love of sweet fancy Moses, stop with the spoken word poetry readings in public.