The angry denizens of Occupy Orlando are promoting a protest for this weekend – 8:00 am on October 15th – starting at the Chamber of Commerce at 75 South Ivanhoe Blvd. I wish them well, but I’m not going to join them. Don’t get me wrong; I also have some complaints. I just don’t believe that this will end corporate greed. In fact, I doubt it will end any kind of greed. Greed, in and of itself, is not really the problem. Control is the problem. Some people have it and these protesters are trying to get it. Until they realize that little fact, I don’t see them having any form of success.
No doubt, the people who are in control are greedy and will step on anyone else to maintain their power and comfortable lifestyle. Do you think that anyone attending the protest would do differently if their roles were reversed? The history of humanity has shown us the answer. It even gives us trite sayings to remind us of these little power struggles – absolute power corrupts absolutely. So the protest has little to do with ending corporate greed, but rather, whining that they’re on the shitty end of the stick.
Meanwhile, the folks who engage in protests tend to be consumers of corporate products. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream pronounced its solidarity with the Occupy[Insert City Name Here] folks. Yes, why shouldn’t they? This is an outstanding marketing opportunity! They’re siding with the people who buy ice cream in a campaign that I’m sure has the approval of their Corporate Board of Directors.
Look, I have no problems with protests. In fact, I’m glad that there are people who will give up part of their weekend to go yell and scream on a day when no one from the corporate office will be around to see the protest. I have no doubt that the organizers picked this date and time so it wouldn’t conflict with the work schedules of the protestors who work for greedy corporations, because you know that it’s mostly non-corporate businesses that work weekends to sell & serve these folks at small businesses.
However, I wish these protestors would be honest with themselves and target the corporations they know most. Instead of passing out flyers at the Chamber of Commerce on a day when no one is around, why not protest Target? Why not protest the Orlando Magic on a game night? Why? Because these same people are supporting those corporations all the time. You won’t see this protest at Bright House headquarters, because they want to go home and watch a football game on cable after stuffing flyers under windshield wipers.
There’s only one way to protest against corporate greed. Stop giving them your money. That’s why we have another trite saying, “Money talks.”