Occupy Wall Street has become the rallying cry for young Americans galvanized by news of an impending "double dip" recession. Incensed at the erosion of their individual and collective sovereignty in the face of mounting debt loads, demonstrators are flooding onto Main Streets across the U.S. to register their dissent.
As demonstrators turn their wrath against iconic targets like Wall Street, they don't appear to be in a mood for discussion. Neither do the police and civil authorities, as hundreds of protesters were arrested over the weekend.
This confrontation has been brewing for decades as the Prophets of Boom have overheated industrial economies until they are ready to burst. Cooler heads have failed get decision-makers to heed the warning signs in the face of immediate gratification and unlimited growth. Now the heat is on them, as common folk demand an historic settling of accounts.
While expectations that took generations to set are being crushed by the economic news and by the authorities' reflex reactions, it looks like the discussion has spilled out of the usual forums for democractic debate. All the momentum is with the protesters, acting spontaneously and fuelled by Web-induced fervour. Little likelihood, then, that the demonstrations will cool down quickly.
The situation has all the elements of a sustained confrontation. Not since the Vietnam War has there been such widespread protest in the U.S. With no visible leadership and limitless energy, the people on the street must take their inspiration from non-violent figures like Ghandi, Mandela and King. Political and public safety authorities will need to keep control over the police. Without some self-control, the vision of America will soon be turned from a dream state into a horror show.
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