The Consensus Behind the Occupation

If you haven’t been watching the news for the last month and a half, then you probably aren’t 100% sure what people are talking about when they mention Occupy Wall Street, or “the 99%.” But since this is a world ruled by instantly attainable information, you’ve no doubt heard that there isn’t much of a unified message even among the myriad Occupy movements taking place all over the world. As a member of the 99%, along with everyone else who isn’t a millionaire, I feel that it is important to contribute a positive outlook on this amazing peace movement.

Salt Lake City, Utah (my home for the past 2 years) recently joined the occupy movement. In a city torn between an active Mormon Religious Complex and a vibrant tattooed, pierced, otherly religious counter-culture, it’s often a surprise that both sides can be counted among the participants of the occupation and daily marches against corporations and federal buildings. But when you look at what the movement as a whole stands for is for all men and women whose voices have been nullified by blatant corruption within our financial and political systems (the one’s responsible for “too big, to fail”). Constantly misrepresented by the media, both sides of the spectrum suspect the movement of being operatives for the extremes. This is not the case by any means.

YouTube carries invaluable video of people talking about what this movement means and how it is based on the idea of Consensus. Admittedly, my knowledge of this form of governing is limited to only a few General Assemblies at OSLC, but what I do know is that with Consensus, every voice that participates in the discussion is heard and allowed to be considered by every other. It is truly governing for the people and by the people and, much to the dismay of left and right, totally leaves their existence out of the process. Everyone who comes to an assembly has equal time and right to speak on any issue that they are passionate about.

I can only hope that this movement catches the attention of our political leaders in a positive way. We are the voices that create our future. If we continue to allow them to be silenced, we will lose the ability to use them. This is an issue that effects our entire world, please join the discussion!


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