Stephen Graff's Blog - Posts Tagged "globalization"

We are living in times that can't be accurately assessed. Even renowned economists have been unable to predict future trends and have scratched their heads at the present state of things. Protest movements have sprung up around the world out of frustration with the lack of economic momentum; out of despair that things may not return to normal, that lost jobs may never return, that pensions squandered are gone forever. There are too many frustrations to think about in these new endless equations about what went wrong. In 2008, as markets and financial institutions collapsed, The United States government stepped in with a bold plan of action. Most economists today still argue that a government stimulus was necessary; many still call for greater action today. But Washington is in a state of perpetual stasis. Wall Street continues to play the markets without any concern for ethical and moral imperative. The patriotism that was a hallmark of American corporations in generations past has vanished. Government has no interest in finding fault with the Wall Street class that--in the view of many--played a major role in helping an economic collapse that has no precedent. Now Occupy Wall Street is spreading to most of the country's major cities, though it shows little sign of catching fire and becoming a cogent political movement that can affect real national change. Whether a new, more sensible world order is in the offing remains to be seen. Whether the middle class can survive is also a question mark. What seems apparent, however, is that this new young generation of Americans--the children of hard working Americans--now face a possibly frightening future lacking in many of the fringe benefits that were expected by their parents and grandparents. They've sacrificed their lives and mental health fighting two wars for an elitist political class that planned these wars in their isolated think tanks. Now they stand on the precipice and they see a country that is selling itself short and selling them out. They're anger and purpose is palpable. They may become a factor for change; a groundswell for political turnover; a chance for the overthrow of the present political leadership. For that to happen, real leaders have to emerge from this movement and be willing to serve and work both within and against the present faltering system.