COMMENTARY | Florida will be one of four states holding its GOP presidential primaries in January. Jacksonville, Fla., is set to host a debate on January 26, five days before the primary vote. In October, the rise of the Occupy Wall Street movement was seen as a fringe group of people, mostly associated with liberal and progressive voters. More and more, this group expresses the thoughts of many out-of-work, middle-class Americans. Will the Occupy Wall Street group cross boundaries and have an effect on the elections in Florida?
If there is a political breeze blowing in Florida and across the country in general, it is that our current political representatives are not doing their job. In 2009 the Tea Party emerged as a sort of backlash against politics as usual. The Tea Party had a huge impact on elections in 2010. What has emerged out of the Occupy Wall Street in agreement with the Tea Party, proves to be joining agreements that big businesses rule the economy and the middle class is slowly slipping away. The Occupy Wall Street movement is spreading and more and more voicing the concern of the average person. With Florida often voting conservatively who would have thought the Occupy movement would take off in the Sunshine state? Gatherings have been held in every major city in Florida, with Jacksonville’s group even influencing a City Council vote to be tabled. With such unrest and dissatisfaction among voters at large, how can the GOP neglect these voters? As the debate in Jacksonville looms close, the Republican party will have to come up with solutions to address concerns.
Unemployment
Depending on the part of the country, unemployment looms as high as 11 percent. On several occasions congress has extended the unemployment benefits. Extension dates are set to expire at the end of 2011. GOP candidates will need to address how to care for the massive amount of unemployed people in the United States, many of whom have looked fervently for work but cannot find employment due to fierce competition.
New Jobs
As the farming and industrial jobs, the backbone of the 20th century economy, go the way of the horse and buggy, GOP candidates need to discuss creating jobs. In an information and technology age, jobs will look different as will employers and benefits. The Republican party needs to address these concerns if they hope to attract Independent voters and disgruntled Republicans in Florida.
Corporate Greed and Unequal Wealth Distribution
Most everyone, even the staunchest Republican, realizes that corporate greed has gotten out of hand. Some even blame the government for assisting, starting with Bush’s business bailouts and Obama’s continuation of the program. Lobbyists with extensive cash and corporate support often influence votes in Congress. The Republican candidates need to address this topic. Their comments need to go further than a defense of Capitalism and include creative solutions to distribute wealth more evenly.
While the Occupy Wall Street Movement began as an unorganized group of people, mostly representative of the left, it has taken over the country and the world. More and more people who are not political see the problem with financial inequality. If Republicans generate well thought out and productive suggestions to these issues, they stand a chance of winning the GOP primaries in Florida on January 31.