The #Occupation continues in Iowa City and elsewhere- (down in Des Moines, they're not fooling around. State Troopers apparently don't have the patience for this kind of thing) but Republicans are starting to tee up on the protestors, which to me, is a mistake- especially for Herman Cain. Calling these protestors 'jealous' Americans who want to 'play the victim card'? Uncool. It might be nice red meat for some of the more disapproving sectors of the Republican base, but Herman Cain- Mr. Cain, you're on the verge of having a serious breakthrough. Don't compromise your chances by engaging in partisan mudslinging- especially don't demonize people who have serious grievances that need to be addressed by someone. Plus points for partisan primary Parcheesi, minus a helluva lot more for lack of leadership. Not very Presidential, Mr. Cain.
What these protestors want is a still evolving discussion, I think- but an emerging trend seems to be the Millenial Generation's realization that they've been sold a bill of goods. A college degree was, for my generation, a good investment in your future. You went to high school, went to college, got a house, got a job- the 'good life' would follow. It was our happy-go-lucky version of the American dream. In these economic times, a lot of grads are realizing they're graduating with degrees that are useless with a ton of debt and dismal job prospects. All of this is compounded by the fact that student loan debt cannot be discharged through bankruptcy. While there are payment options and consolidation options aplenty, student loan debt is rapidly becoming a trap with no escape for a lot of people.
Plus, if student loan debt and college costs are the issue for a lot of people, then Occupying Wall Street isn't the answer. Occupying the Dean's Office is. Exploding college costs can be laid solely at the feet of colleges and Universities themselves! And it's worth noting that the one protest I can remember having a palpable effect on University policy when I was in college was when Students Against Sweatshops staged a good old fashioned sit-in at the President's Office here on campus. (Look what apparel they sell now!) Really and truly, it's time for college students to start biting the hands that feed them. Old fashioned campus takeovers are called for- and more to the point, if you really want to get people's attention, don't just camp out in a park. (Which is why this endorsement is somewhat troubling to me- the AAUP is part of the problem, especially when it comes to college costs.) Start staging sit-ins! Actually occupy something important! If 5,000 Tea Partiers and 5,000 Occupiers walked into Congress and sat down and refused to leave? That would get somebody's attention...
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