For over a month we heard stories about Occupy Wall Street, with a group of individuals protesting big business. This movement has since spread to other cities around the globe. Likewise a group known as Occupy Austin has been gathered outside Austin's City Hall to protest their grievances. Recently they collectively walked to
With this group being downtown I thought I would go downtown to talk to some of those protesting. While I was there I seen/heard a number of drivers honking their horns in support of the protestors, while a small cars contained people shouting, "Get a job." Despite all the commotion the demonstrators didn't seem deterred from their protests. So what is on the minds of these protestors? Why are they protesting?
Amber (age: 24)
Kevin: Why are you here?Amber: To protest, maybe get a change. It's the little things I would like to get to happen.
Kevin: What do you hope to accomplish by being here?
Amber: To see the world open her eyes. see what is going on. Because people look the other way.
Kevin: What changes would you like to see?
Amber: Probably, definitely for the better. To help.There is a lot about the government that I do agree with but it's the little things like where are they going to put the money for this budget. Why are they so overdrawn? Like they expect us to pay all of our bills, but they can't even balance a checkbook.
Why are there so many homeless people? Why are there so many people that don't have Medicare? They are just on the street dying because they can't afford the right medications.
Kevin: If Government don't have any money, How are they going to pay for all this?
Amber: This beautiful building (Austin City Hall) right here is made out of copper. Seventeen ($17) million dollars of copper just setting there on that roof. I mean, why can't they just put regular brick or glass on top of the building like all the rest of them? Why is the $17 million just setting there? You know $17 million dollars can feed so many people and help so many people out.
Kevin: Do you have any ideas as to how to accomplish these changes?
Amber: I figure we should get people that aren't as spoiled. Like if they mess up , if they go to jail they get a slap on the wrist. They can go drink and drive. They next day they are out of jail. Everything's fine, nothing on their record. Their spoiled and they know they are spoiled. They are getting paid all this money to do what? If they can't do their job, then we can't do it for them. So I figure if we pay them like normal people to help everything else and maybe have 2 or 3 people doing that one job so they can figure out different ways, then it will be okay.
Kevin: Do you have any aspirations about running for city council or maybe another public office?
Amber:No. I feel it is to corrupted right now. Until they get better people I won't stand for it.
Kevin: If you feel they need better people, why not run and maybe you can be one of those better people?
Amber: It's kind like I would be the little stick in the river. Like a little stick is not going to do much in the river, but if you get a bunch of sticks then a bunch of things will happen.
Kevin: But doesn't it start with one person?
Amber: It does, but you have to have rain drops to get the river.
Kevin: Do you have a favorite Presidential candidate?
Amber: No.
Let's face it, I agree with some of these people. Amber sounds intelligent and like she knows some of the things she wants to see happen, but like so many Americans she doesn't want to be that agent of change herself. She just wants to complain. That is sad to me. If this is her attitude, how is she any different then the rest of us? How is she any different then the people she is complaining about? Well, I guess the last question is easy. Those she is complaining about are at least trying to do something. While she just complains. Perhaps, in the near future she will step forward as someone who actually wants to do something. Till then I am not sure what will actually happen to accomplish these changes.
Read my related articles Why are the Occupiers Really Protesting? In Their Own Words on Blogcritics and Who Are The Occupiers? on KevinsView.com.
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