Movement could open doors for city

New York, Berlin, London and Chicago are all "occupied." And Terre Haute is about to join that ever-growing list.

Sunday, a small gathering took place in Dede Plaza for the first meeting of Occupy Terre Haute, a sign that the original Occupy protest is making its influence known across the country.

As the movement continues to spread across Terre Haute, students may be wondering about the impact this will have on the community and the motivations behind it.

What, exactly, is this whole Occupy thing about?

It originated on Wall Street two months ago, when frustrations with wealthy executives had reached an all-time high.

An article on CNN's website, titled "Why ‘occupy' It's personal," stated that executive salary is nearly five times higher than it was in the 80s. The 99 percent who don't fall under the "executive" category, however, are still making the same wages they were over 20 years ago.

Because of this unbalanced system, the rich are continuing to get richer while the poor are struggling.

Further, corporations are raking in huge profits, paying lower taxes and donating $275 million to politicians.

The people of New York, at least, felt that their individual voices weren't being heard, so they unified on Wall Street, hoping for power in numbers.  

So how does that relate to Terre Haute, a city that has no Wall Street?

Terre Haute is actually a major metropolis with a large population. What it lacks, though, is an abundance of employment opportunities. Areas such as downtown Terre Haute and West Terre Haute have lost their luster because of the low employment rates.

What have the residents of our city done to turn this around? Until now, people have rarely made a stand when it comes to revamping the city because the residents are resistant to change.

Sunday's meeting proves that the days of following routine are numbered. Citizens and students are fed up and are ready to speak out. Only time will tell how much momentum the movement will generate.