New Movement Picks Up Where Occupy Wall Street Trails Off
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New Movement Picks Up Where Occupy Wall Street Trails Off
Occupy Wall Street’s most recent push, “May Day,” exemplifies the crux of the protest: it’s a great forum to express widespread discontent about financial issues, but less adept at affecting bona fide change between giant corporations and average consumers.
Critics of the movement tend to call it politically dangerous and radical, like pollster Doug Schoen in the Wall Street Journal. On the other hand, President Obama is embracing a 2012 platform crusading for the 99 percent against the presumptive GOP nominee.
However, Obama’s administration didn’t fulfill its original vows promising Wall Street culpability or repercussions for reckless bankers. Despite the public sentiment created by the Occupy movement, in four years, the federal government hasn’t filed a single charge against any Big Finance executives.
“It’s perplexing at best,” said Phil Angelides, the Democratic former California treasurer who chaired the bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. “It’s deeply troubling at worst.”
While Occupy Wall Street succeeded in presenting a means to express concern, the federal government continues to hedge upon promises of financial accountability. How can individual consumers take action?
A budding movement called All Our Power offers an alternative that’s designed to build off the momentum created by Occupy Wall Street and spur real action. As the fledgling movement spreads, millions of members will give All Our Power the ability to negotiate with top bankers, retailers, health insurance companies, cell phone providers and more.
In fact, the Occupiers at Zuccotti Park were joined by a large rally of protesters from All Our Power in early May. Their signs and chants urged passersby and Occupiers alike to join their member base to amass a group 10 million strong. As the movement continues to swell in size and influence, the group intends to secure lower prices, significant discounts and long-term contracts for all members — and membership is free.
“With these kinds of numbers, we can truly bring negotiating power to make huge corporations concede to the needs of individual consumers,” explains Joe Kalfa, founder of All Our Power. “Our plan is to hold a bunch more rallies in the coming months across the U.S. Our movement is a solution that bridges the gap between the 1 percent and the rest of us.