Global Protest Actions Show Mass Displeasure: Should Political and Economic Structures Give In?
The series of Wall Street protests and mass actions being conducted by Greek citizens in Athens against the highly unpopular austerity measures of Prime Minister George Papandreou have one thing in common.
It is an indication of private citizens' right of assembly and consequently to air their grievances against what they believe as unjust or oppressive.
The huge demonstrations in New York have been described by several international publications as the response of Americans to the worsening unemployment conditions in the country.
On the other hand, Reuters reported that belligerent demonstrators have promised to put Greece at a standstill even as Greek legislators are set to vote on the provisions of the controversial bill ahead of the EU Summit in Belgium.
More radical sectors assert that the Occupy Wall Street movement organized these mammoth rallies to show public disapproval for the inability of the nation's political leaders and financial planners to prevent an impending recession.
The protests taking place across the globe shows the general public's aversion to current developments in politics and business.
The people's welfare should not be compromised in this case as explained by Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his Discourse on Political Economy where he stresses that the "general will exists to protect individuals against the mass, not require them to be sacrificed for it."
However, vested interests and the egotism of men drive them to be tyrannical or domineering towards other people.
This is precisely what is taking place in Europe and the U.S. as the interests of the few are being put on top over the common welfare.
Political and economic observers expect protests in Greece to continue as Greeks from all walks of life have become more and more enraged at measures they believe only hurt the impoverished while tax evaders and dishonest politicians remain unaffected.
Still no other alternative is seen option for the ruling Socialists, who hold 154 seats in the 300-strong assembly but to pass the measures.
This is a key condition to convince the EU and IMF before the Brussels conference that Greece deserves to keep getting the loans it needs to avoid bankruptcy.