Occupy Pittsburgh Kickoff

I've lived a charmed life. Others have fought for, and laid the groundwork for many advantages in life that apply to me. In my college education and careers I have secretly felt like the system was set in my favor to make things easy for me. My struggles have been internal (feeling socially insecure or lethargic sometimes). At least that is my perception.

But I want to be more responsible on a larger scale. The middle class has been eroding, so when I heard about Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Pittsburgh I jumped at the opportunity to participate. My family and friends participated in the kickoff march today, October 15, 2011, starting at Freedom Corner in Pittsburgh's Hill District and through "Dahntahn." My family and I went to Occupy Wall Street for the day last Saturday, and there is no way I would stay at that protest overnight in a sleeping bag. That would be the LAST thing a 53 year old woman from Hinsdale, Illinois, would do. But now, I'm thinking about it.

I am protesting Wall Street managers who allowed or caused the financial meltdown who still have their jobs and bonuses while a huge number of middle class people are foreclosed on and lost their jobs. The Occupation movement is not about a soundbite though. It is the beginning of the 99% rousing from their slumber and learning how to participate in the decision making process instead of letting the 1% persistently chip away at us until we become their serfs and peasants who prop up their extravagant lifestyle. I still accept capitalism and I'm not promoting socialism. I am standing up for checks and balances within the system.