The Analyzing Press
"Analysis of Both Sides of the Occupy Chicago Movement"
By: Sean Miller
Published: 12/6/11
Time and time again it seems that theirs some kind of crisis going on in Chicago politics and our state economy. Just in the past couple days the final hearing and decision of Rod Blagojevich and his corruption was decided and he will be sentenced to fourteen years in jail. Corruption in Illinois politics has been going on since the beginning of the city; "If Illinois isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor" (Brackett).
With the almost complete economic collapse, bail out of multi-national corporations, and banks; it has sparked an occupy movement asking for complete redoing of US politics and the way we distribute wealth and go about spending. People are furious about the mortgage meltdown sparking the crisis, as well as how economic and social inequality is destroying our government. Bringing it back to Chicago and the occupy movement that’s be ragging since around the beginning of Occupy Wall street movement; there has been to definitive sides to this issue. One is the growing support for a separation between corporations, banks, commercial lending, investment operations and the government giving them human like rights; as well as limiting the involvement lobbyist have in the legislation, the forgiving of student debt, returning of jobs that are held hostage, and finally making a decision on pensions for workers. This all can’t happen right away, but
steps are being taken and everything is being taken into consideration. "The same rules of math apply here in Illinois...The economy will keep stumbling until there's a long term federal budget deal...I fear what's going to happen to America and Illinois unless pols get serious soon about the righting the nation's economy and balancing Illinois's books" (Hinz). The protesters of the Occupy Chicago movement really want some kind of change in the way the government and specifically Illinois do business. When protesters ask
corporations and the government on why things happened the way they did and why there is all this bailing out of corporation and banks when theirs millions of US citizens struggling to survive; most of the time the answer is "this was the best plan of action" or even no response at all. Many supporters believe "The big question is who’s going to swallow the losses, it should be the banks, but they don’t want to. We’re likely to be in paralysis for years if they prevail" (Stiglitz). Until some kind of action is taken, protester will keep protesting for proper use of government money, elimination of corruption, returning of jobs, and many other ongoing dilemmas in the Illinois government and the state
itself.
As for the other side of the situation, people in government and corporation jobs believe that everything has been done to stop the US from
completely collapsing. The situation going on in this country is a non-avoidable one and was pre-determined by old decisions. So many politicians and corporate employees believe that what steps are being taken and ones that aren’t being taken is all in the best interest of US citizens. People in the government truly do understand what’s going on in our country, despite what many supporters of the Occup movement believe and say. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Fed, "acknowledged that the economy was weaker than hoped, while promising to consider new policies to invigorate it, should conditions worsen". Many Occupy supporters and non-supporters, are just wondering why nothing in the economy has changed or why the debt has not shrunk since our recession began back in 2007. "That is because nearly any proposed curative could risk adding to the national debt - a political nonstarter. The situation has left American fortunes pinned to an uncertain remedy: hoping that things somehow get better" (Goodman); the government is truly limited to the decision it can make to improve the economy. Many politicians and government officials were approached with purposed methods of borrowing more money which in most eyes "seems politically risky in the months before the congressional elections, even in the name of creating jobs and generating economic growth" (Goodman).
Both sides have compelling support for why the economy is the way it is and who is to blame for the recession. Bringing Chicago and Illinois back into the picture, the national situation is affecting people here. The economy in Illinois is not in a pretty situation with around 106 billion dollars in debt. Putting aside the corruption that already existed, the Illinois economy is seen as not being helped and being helped. As a journalist and the nature of The Analysis Press, I can't be biased and just support one side. I presented both sides to you, our readers, now I would love to hear back from you either in a letter, email, message on our department phone, or even a personal interview. This is a huge topic that needs constant opinion and coverage in order to keep the situation up to date. What do our readers think?
With the almost complete economic collapse, bail out of multi-national corporations, and banks; it has sparked an occupy movement asking for complete redoing of US politics and the way we distribute wealth and go about spending. People are furious about the mortgage meltdown sparking the crisis, as well as how economic and social inequality is destroying our government. Bringing it back to Chicago and the occupy movement that’s be ragging since around the beginning of Occupy Wall street movement; there has been to definitive sides to this issue. One is the growing support for a separation between corporations, banks, commercial lending, investment operations and the government giving them human like rights; as well as limiting the involvement lobbyist have in the legislation, the forgiving of student debt, returning of jobs that are held hostage, and finally making a decision on pensions for workers. This all can’t happen right away, but
steps are being taken and everything is being taken into consideration. "The same rules of math apply here in Illinois...The economy will keep stumbling until there's a long term federal budget deal...I fear what's going to happen to America and Illinois unless pols get serious soon about the righting the nation's economy and balancing Illinois's books" (Hinz). The protesters of the Occupy Chicago movement really want some kind of change in the way the government and specifically Illinois do business. When protesters ask
corporations and the government on why things happened the way they did and why there is all this bailing out of corporation and banks when theirs millions of US citizens struggling to survive; most of the time the answer is "this was the best plan of action" or even no response at all. Many supporters believe "The big question is who’s going to swallow the losses, it should be the banks, but they don’t want to. We’re likely to be in paralysis for years if they prevail" (Stiglitz). Until some kind of action is taken, protester will keep protesting for proper use of government money, elimination of corruption, returning of jobs, and many other ongoing dilemmas in the Illinois government and the state
itself.
As for the other side of the situation, people in government and corporation jobs believe that everything has been done to stop the US from
completely collapsing. The situation going on in this country is a non-avoidable one and was pre-determined by old decisions. So many politicians and corporate employees believe that what steps are being taken and ones that aren’t being taken is all in the best interest of US citizens. People in the government truly do understand what’s going on in our country, despite what many supporters of the Occup movement believe and say. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Fed, "acknowledged that the economy was weaker than hoped, while promising to consider new policies to invigorate it, should conditions worsen". Many Occupy supporters and non-supporters, are just wondering why nothing in the economy has changed or why the debt has not shrunk since our recession began back in 2007. "That is because nearly any proposed curative could risk adding to the national debt - a political nonstarter. The situation has left American fortunes pinned to an uncertain remedy: hoping that things somehow get better" (Goodman); the government is truly limited to the decision it can make to improve the economy. Many politicians and government officials were approached with purposed methods of borrowing more money which in most eyes "seems politically risky in the months before the congressional elections, even in the name of creating jobs and generating economic growth" (Goodman).
Both sides have compelling support for why the economy is the way it is and who is to blame for the recession. Bringing Chicago and Illinois back into the picture, the national situation is affecting people here. The economy in Illinois is not in a pretty situation with around 106 billion dollars in debt. Putting aside the corruption that already existed, the Illinois economy is seen as not being helped and being helped. As a journalist and the nature of The Analysis Press, I can't be biased and just support one side. I presented both sides to you, our readers, now I would love to hear back from you either in a letter, email, message on our department phone, or even a personal interview. This is a huge topic that needs constant opinion and coverage in order to keep the situation up to date. What do our readers think?