Hundreds of protesters chanted, “I am the 99 percent,” at a public park in downtown Louisville on Oct. 4.
The protesters are participating in Occupy Louisville, which is part of a nationwide moment to attract awareness to social injustices.
The phrase “I am the 99 percent” is in reference to the population percentage that have been left voiceless and penniless in a democracy that supports the 1 percent remainder — corporations.
Our democracy has catered to the elite and mega corporations by providing bailout funds when threatened by overwhelming debt. In the meantime, this has also neglected the taxpayers who contributed to these bailout funds.
Our nation has become dependent on the business cycle.
People are judged based on what they have.
This measures how successful we are.
Of the 99 percent, a 30-year-old man who works a full-time job has to live in his parents basement because he cannot afford a home of his own. He is then stereotyped and labeled as a “momma’s boy,” being behind his peers.
A single mother goes to school and works between classes while straddling the poverty line. She applies for health insurance, but is denied because her $7.25 an hour job is just enough to throw her past the line and land her in a pile of medical expenses.
Meanwhile, a general studies senior said she cannot fathom how she will pay back her student loans after college because she is more worried about how she will pay for groceries this week.
So many of the milestones in our lives are concentrated on what we buy next.
A teenager needs a cellphone, name brand clothes and a car when they are in high school so they will not be considered a dork or, even worse, poor.
When it comes to marriage, couples need to have a ring for engagement, a ring for the ceremony and a big reception just so the happy pair can receive multiple griddles.
After marriage, it’s time to buy a house, buy the children game systems and buy a big, gas-guzzling SUV to squeeze everything in.
After a happy-filled life of supersizing to the next milestone, the thought of retirement enters, and only now do thoughts of becoming more frugal seep in.
A 65-year-old person wants to retire, not necessarily because they need to, but because their friends purchased condos and RV’s and are going to Florida for the winter.
Their job encourages them to retire.
If they retire, their position becomes available, and their employer can fill that position with a recent college graduate who will accept a lower amount of wages.
After traveling the world, older couples start saving for funeral expenses and purchasing plots of land for burial so their families will not have to absorb the costs.
Throughout the years, the business cycle has consumed one of its largest prey – education.
We are taught from elementary school to become an employee, not an employer.
We are told in order to make more money or apply for a management position, we have to receive a college degree.
So, whether we intend to or not, we support corporations. Therefore, we should not have to bail them out in addition.
This is why protesters will remain at the Occupy Louisville protest.
The protesters intentions are to remain there until they are heard, while chanting “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out,” and holding posters stating, “Land of the thieves, Home of the Slaves.”
By LEAH TATE
Sports Editor
lmtate@umail.iu.edu
