The driving factors behind Occupy Wall Street

TEHRAN, Jan.2 (MNA) -- The economic crisis in the United States and the consequent challenges, especially the rising unemployment rate, were regarded as the main catalysts of the Occupy Wall Street movement, which began on September 17, 2011 in New York. The demonstrations, which were inspired by the popular protests in Egypt, Greece, Spain, and other countries, were held to express opposition to the most serious contradictions in the US democracy. Issues such as poverty, unemployment, corporate greed, social inequality, foreign wars, students’ inability to pay for their tuitions, and the huge bonuses granted to Wall Street corporate executives were also driving factors behind the protests. In a recent report, the Congressional Research Service stated that the wealth of one percent of US citizens has more than tripled over the past three decades. But the middle class, in contrast, has suffered the greatest decrease in their income. The U.S. government’s inability to meet the expectations of citizens has intensified public discontent, especially over the past few years. U.S. President Barack Obama has not kept his campaign promises. A recent Gallup poll indicates that dissatisfaction with the performance of the government is at its highest level in 40 years. And the socioeconomic chasm dividing the poor and the rich has infuriated U.S. citizens. The famous slogan chanted by the protesters -- “We are the 99 percent” -- was actually a direct reflection of this social inequality. The global wave of popular protests over the past year, which has toppled a number of dictators in the Middle East and North Africa region, encouraged U.S. citizens to begin expressing their discontent. The fact that protesters set up tents in the middle of cities and named some demonstration days the “Day of Anger” clearly illustrates the similarity between the demonstrations in the Middle East and North Africa and the protests in the United States. Occupy Wall Street opened up a new chapter in the history of the United States. Although the movement has greatly dissipated in New York, it is still visible in U.S. media and political circles. And the Democrats are trying to highjack the main slogans of the movement in order to win the next presidential election. The movement has had an impact on the social, economic, and political life of millions of U.S. citizens and will continue to have a great influence on the country in the future.