The Occupy Vancouver Protests was the first movement I’ve witnessed in person. From what I understand, they are protesting because of the current state of the economy and how wealth isn’t distributed amongst the population. I embarked on the Occupy Vancouver several times and noticed that most of the occupiers are hippies, poor, lazy, and under drug influence.
In New York, business owners are laying off their workers due to falling sales because of the occupiers. The occupiers are discouraging shoppers from entering the areas around the camp. Recently several business owners spoke to the occupiers telling them the externalities they are causing. One owner explains, “”People who are working for us have a right to their jobs, and you can’t go and usurp other people’s rights”.
The occupiers have been protesting for two months and in my opinion the movement has gone too far. The occupiers are wasting their energy protesting and giving “free hugs” instead of actively searching for opportunities or jobs. The economy isn’t at its greatest and instead of finding ways to improve it, they are causing businesses to lay off their workers and possibly close down in the future.