OWS

OWS Summary

In the article, “Ask Not What Occupy Wall Street will do next; Ask How We Will Change The Status Quo.” It begins with the indication that the Occupy Wall Street movement has lost its momentum and is falling short in recapturing the energy it once possessed. But he points out that the Occupy Wall Street movement has remained relevant because of the identity it has created from its phrases and iconic images.

The author states that the Occupy Wall Street movement is a movement fighting for the interests of the 99%, and is challenging the enemy known as the 1%. Fitzgerald feels that in order for the Occupy Wall Street movement to reach its potential it has to resist reification. He defines reification as, “The transformation from an abstract and indefinable collection of facts and interpretation’s into a concrete and not-up-for-debate “thing”. What he means is that the Occupy Wall Street movement could evolve into something that doesn’t advocate the core belief “That private interest is a public problem.”

He indicates that Wall Street tries to put an image of inclusiveness, but instead it’s only controlled by a select few who have extensive amounts of wealth that have the power to sway the markets. Occupy Wall Street is a movement that sheds light into the private sectors lack of care for the public’s interests. He sees this movement as a way to reclaim the power held by a select few and establish into something that allows everybody to participate and make decisions that benefit the majority. In conclusion, Fitzgerald believes that OWS can be used as a tool to further the cause by challenging the status quo and developing into something that involves everyone.