US citizens are angry with their government for favoring banks while doing little to help the people, as they have been rallying for more than two weeks. And, as ex-Wall Street executive Richard Eskow told RT, the demonstrators have achieved much.
According to Eskow, the demonstrations will make a practical difference to the path America is taking today. “Every protest has an element of noise to it. But for a political protest movement that is so young, still growing, and has gathered a surprising amount of supporters in a very short time, there is a fascinating development,” he stated. “Several major unions have joined this group that is primarily young people and the head of our largest coalition of unions expressed his support. To have that kind of working people expressing such solidarity with student-led movements so early in the process is really fascinating,” he added.Eskow maintains the demonstrators have no specific demands of Wall Street because they say that would empower the bankers even more. They are asking for social justice for all.“What they are doing is reasserting a set of values, saying everyone who wants a job should get a job, businessmen should deal with one another honestly, crimes should be punished and so on. It is smart of them not to get pinned down and say ‘We want a financial transaction’s tax’. And this is why they have been able to get some attention,” he explained.In reaction to the protests President Obama said he understands the public concern about the financial system, and the US needs a strong and effective financial sector for the economy to grow. But according to Eskow he is not really listening to what they are saying.“I would say he is continuing to try to do the rather delicate dance he has been trying to do for some time, which is not to alienate the banking industry or the financial sector that is able to give unlimited contributions to any political candidate, including him or his opponents,” he said. “At the same time he tries not to alienate the base of voters who overwhelmingly in this country according to polls want to see indictments of Wall Street crimes, and that includes most Republicans,” he added.