Occupy Wall Street/ Tea Party
As time has passed by, there has been an increasing concern about the United States economic position. The Republicans and Democrats have yet to make a compromise about a plan to help improve the economy, other than the American Jobs Act. President Obama formed the American Jobs Act, which would increase taxes for the rich, increase employment, and tax cuts for middle-class families. Congress did not pass the act because they felt that there wasn’t enough money to fund the American Jobs Act. Therefore, we are now left with the majority of the country unsatisfied with the government and the President of the United States.
Since, there has not been a change with the inequality, corruption, and greed in the U.S.; the people of New York have decided to protest by occupying Wall Street. The people have decided to sleep outside in groups in the city of Manhattan and various other places. The Occupy Wall Street movement is a group of people that feel that their viewpoints need to be heard. The people feel that everyone does not have equal opportunities to obtain a job and that there is plenty of discrimination, when trying to obtain a job. Also they feel that there is too much corruption in the U.S. because of violence, tax invasion, crime, etc. The people feel that the rich are only looking out for their own interests and care nothing for those who are not rich.
The Occupy Wall Street movement feels that the working class are treated unfairly for the simple fact that they have higher taxes than that of the rich people. The Occupy Wall Street movement are seen in the eyes of some as Democrats because of their beliefs and viewpoints. The people that are a part of this movement feel that in order to improve the economy; we must have a bigger government, more people in control, more spending, etc. Overall, the people in this movement demand better paying jobs with transportation, education, and a healthcare system. I agree with the Occupy Wall street movement simply because I feel that in order to boost our economy we must spend more and that everyone should have a better paying job.
The functionalist viewpoint of the Occupy Wall street movement would be that inequality is inevitable and is necessary in order to sustain structure in our society. A functionalist would say that there must be some sort of balance in our society, where some people are rich and others are poor, in order to keep people employed and motivated to work harder to reach America’s idea of success. Also, a functionalist would say that corruption is necessary too, in order to keep people employed, making money, paying taxes, etc.
The conflict viewpoint of the Occupy Wall street movement would be that the people are going against the government, people in higher power, in order to fight in what they believe in. The problem is in most cases that the people with more money always tend to win. Also, a conflictionist would point out that there is conflict between the Democrats and Republicans based off each other’s viewpoints, but not on a personal level.
The interactionalist viewpoint of the Occupy Wall street movement would be that viewpoints, the media, reactions, and actions change all of the time. The movements, thoughts, ideas, are all apart of how individuals act with one another. Their viewpoint would be that these are people are tired of working hard but not being rewarded the way they should for their hard work. As a society, we tend to overlook those who help us to be in the high position that we are in. The behavior that these people have to the government is hostile. The people involved in the movement are protesting now instead of at an earlier time is interesting to sociologists. Sociologists wonder if the downward spiral of the economy and the President’s unsuccessful attempt to improve it is what sparked the people of New York City.
The Tea Party are a group of people that feel that there should be a smaller government, less spending, and no high taxes on the rich. Some people feel that this is only a way of the rich people maintaining their control and wealth. Other people feel that there might be too many people, who are a part of the government. Maybe, a smaller government would be simple, easily controllable, and more organized than the people in the Congress and Senate. The people apart of this movement consider themselves to be Republicans. I disagree with the Tea Party because I feel like there should be more consumers buying products and that a bigger government is necessary in order to hear the opinions of many people.
The functionalist viewpoint about the Tea Party would be that a smaller government would be useful to help maintain social structure throughout the country. They would feel that unfairness in this case would be good. The conflict viewpoint about the Tea Party is that neither movement can come to an agreement and that conflict will not be solved any time soon. The interactionalist viewpoint about the Tea Party is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their actions. They feel that we will do what we want based off of needs, wants, motivation from others etc. The differences between the Tea Party and the Occupy wall street movement is that The Tea Party wants a small government, less spending, and no tax hike, whereas, the Occupy Wall Street movement wants a big government, more spending, and tax hike on the wealthy.