Occupy Opinion

Mary Anne Marrero

Mr. Hayes

Eng 100 – 1:10

3/20/13

Word Count: 526

   The Occupy movement has far been a popular issue I often see in the news. These people fight for what they believe they deserve, yet it’s quite difficult to comprehend on what exactly they are rooting for, especially when it comes to their own financial needs. People are camping out, protesting on the streets, and expressing outrage over inequalities, not to mention underemployment. In these two opinion columns, Leif Dautch and Charles Kenny point out contrasting, yet slightly similar views on the issue. One claims that we are the 99 percent in need of help from the middle class, while the other one claims that being in a first-world country actually makes us the 1 percent “ultrarich” as compared to other countries. Kenny’s opinion is more persuasive than Dautch’s because it seems more reasonable and his sources are well-cited.

   Dautch, a recent graduate of Harvard Law School, claims that, “the unifying principle of the movement is not based on political or economic theory, but instead on a quintessentially moral theme,” as stated on her opinion column published in USA TODAY. She refutes the assumptions conveying that the Occupy movement is weak in terms of their demands for economic and political equality. Through this, Dautch argues that the movement is primarily done in line with a moral theme, which seems to be the main reason why these protesters are expected to stand by each other’s backs. She lacks more reasons to prove her point. Her opinion seems a little biased because she goes off and proclaims that the whole movement is done by morality. There’s a probability that she’s actually just stating out her own opinion based on her own experience, which may appear to be different on someone else’s view on the Occupy movement. Moreover, she asserts that 1 percent of the rich, middle class people should help the 99 percent who are agonizing over these problems caused by an unfair government. I don’t think it’s fair enough to say that most of the nation’s population is experiencing economic inequality. She lacks more reliable evidences to prove her opinion.

    Charles Kenny, on the other hand, also expresses his point towards the foregoing issue on the Occupy movement. In an opinion column entitled, “We are the 1 percent,” he claims that the protesters, who are apparently fighting against inequality, are actually part of the middle class.

Based on the evidence that was presented, it’s not that easy to contradict since it’s based on statistical data.

   I agree with Charles because he ends his column by saying, “It’s high time for the rich 1 percent to catch up. But don’t fool yourself – if you live in the West, you probably are that 1 percent.” The Occupy protesters should stop whining and complaining, because if we are actually to compare our economic status with other countries, we’re lucky we get to earn enough money to keep us living. Income inequality has to be solved in a way that rich and poor people are on the same level and making sure that they get the basic care and education.