NOTE FROM the CampusTalkBlogitor: This post by CampusTalkBlogger Dayna Steele originally appeared at FastCompany.com under the title “How Occupy Wall Street Protestors Could Hit The 1% Where It Actually Hurts.” Shortly after it ran I got a DM from Dayna on Twitter… “Already getting Occupy hate mail!” My only thought was, “It couldn’t have been from anyone who really wanted to make a difference.”
We reprint Dayna’s words here as advice that college students, recent grads and anyone else participating on the Occupy Movement should hear… and act upon. Not to overuse a worn phrase, but… “If you keep doin’ whatcha always done. Ya gonna keep gettin’ whatcha always got!” But that’s just one man’s opinion.
PEACE. Rick
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Which of these are you most likely to do to hit ‘The 1%’ where it hurts?
We live in the greatest country in the world, and Occupy Wall Street protestors are participating in one of our finest freedoms, the freedom of speech. I fully support their right to do that.
But I’d like to offer a little unsolicited advice to the protesters currently holding their ground in New York’s Zuccotti Park and elsewhere around the nation: Take all of this energy, time, and people power, and harness it to use in a way that WILL make a difference.
You need to hit the 1% where it hurts the most–their bank accounts. That will get their attention, especially if you are relentless in your efforts. Pooping in the park is not going to get anything done. Instead, deliver pizzas, babysit, get a job doing anything you can, and then use your money in the following ways:
- Eat at locally owned restaurants, not at big chains.
- Shop at locally owned grocery stores or farmers’ markets, not at big chains.
- Stay out of Walmart, Target, and other big box stores. Pay a little extra and shop at your local mom and pop store.
- Only buy what you can afford and quit running up credit card debt. Bankers live off of your interest.
- Move your bank account, no matter the size, to a local bank or credit union.
- Carpool, drive a hybrid, walk, ride your bike–anything you can do to that cuts back your gas consumption.
You get the idea. If you get your fellow protestors to participate in these monetary ways, your ranks will grow and you WILL make that difference. A huge difference.
Be smart, and use your super powers for good, not evil.
In her College Speaker Series, Dayna Steele creates rock stars on your campus by sharing the same principles with college students that she travels the world showing businesses. She teaches them how to grow their business and be better than the competition using her Rock Star Principles. She teaches college students to excel in college, business and life.
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Millicent – thanks for taking the time to join the conversation! I will check out the movie!
Hey Dana! I agree with you completely and your suggestion makes too much sense. Guess that’s why no so few heed them. Too bad we can’t get the masses to see the light. I guess people don’t really change unless they’re forced to and that includes our students. It hasn’t gotten that bad yet.
And to think that collectively we have the power to really make a difference but the masses are still hypnotized by the messages they’ve internalized all too long.
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction! Check out the 1988 sci-fi movie by John Carpenter called “They Live” which shows just how deep the programming goes, and one guy who woke up from it. Google it. Free download. Very provocative and even prophetic!