Storming Wall Street

By Jean-Pierre Houël (1735-1813) (Bibliothèque nationale de France) 

I have been following the 99% in the news lately. I am amazed that many are surprised and confused by their outrage. Some are annoyed. Some find it amusing; nothing more.

I, myself, am surprised this didn't happen sooner. I could see people in this country becoming more and more frustrated with the economy, the banks, the payoffs, etc. I have talked about my own frustration and how it has affected me personally, so, yes, I understand.

Several weeks ago, when the announcement was made the Obama wanted to tax the rich, an interesting thing happened. First, of course, the republicans pushed back, saying that people in their jurisdictions wouldn't stand for this, that they (the people) would back the republicans and vote Obama out. And then a strange thing happened. This story just disappeared from the news. Now, I'm sure it was covered for another day or two. But stories like this - they generally last in the news for days and days.

Not this one. It just dropped - sank like a lead sinker and then disappeared.

And then, suddenly this outburst on Wall Street; stories started to creep up here and there. And what wasn't reported on TV was spread on the internet. Frustration that had built up was pouring out, and continues to pour out. Not in an angry, destructive way, but in a way that is measured and non-violent.

Does that mean that we, the 99% aren't angry? No, far from it. We could borrow our anthem from the 80's group Twisted Sister: "We're not going to take it; no, we're not going to take it." We'd storm the Bastille if it was still around.

But this will be a bloodless revolution. A revolution, nonetheless, but, still, a bloodless one.