The expression of dissatisfaction from those "occupying Wall Street" needs to be listened to by those "in power" and the problem of unemployment and the feeling of injustice need to be addressed.
I personally would set up a large room for the protesters to come into, handing out a sheet of rules of using rational, healthy, fact-based discussion without heated hate, which they must agree to as a condition of entering this meeting - and specifying that this would be an indication of their willingness to create positive results.
And from that, as part of the above agreement, I would write up a summary of the key points and the solutions that they suggested. Then I would go back and come up with (which would be one of the promises in the rules) a plan to address those issues. (Depending on how the meeting goes, it would include a "greenlight" brainstorming session on solutions and/or a separate session where the group selecting, say, 15 members to participate in that meeting.)
Now, of course, with little experience in life and not yet alot of perspective on things, the young people would easily buy into not-so-well-thought-out conclusions. But it will do no good to criticize anyone for not yet being aware of what works. One can only address that with education - meaning facts and sound reasoning. The education should not only be in written form(s) but also in brief videos, all linked together on a website the protesters could go to.
The issues:
Per surveys, 34% think the US is as bad as Al Qaeda.
Some say "replace capitalism with democracy" - which no one would say with perspective (as both exist side by side and are not contradictory). Teaching simplified lessons in what capitalism and socialism are and how each has worked or not worked.
The 1% being unfair and harming the 99%. (Most citizens in the US don't think they are not well off enough, but still the others who are not well off need to be educated and also given more insight into how to prosper.)
Those evil wall street people (even lumping in CEOs in general) are the cause of the problems (instead of looking at the many causes).
Recalling, with empathy
When I was that age, I believed I knew more than I knew and I had several things out of whack.
Ridiculing any group, as far as I can tell, never brought things to solution. Only listening with empathy for how they feel, even if there is not agreement yet, is what works. Only addressing the issues, with empathy and respect, is what works. Only teaching, in a way that is compatible with the age group, is what works. And collaborating further, until the sides come together in cooperation and compromise is what works.
I don't see that happening right now.
A President taking advantage of this
Although Presidents in the past have not been perfect examples of this, I believe a President must be an adult in this matter. Though he could take advantage of this conversation to confirm how wrong others are and to create more dissension, for his political benefit, that would not be "in integrity".
This President has said he stands for, and has even promised that, getting rid of the dissension and resolving things in cooperation, but his actions have not matched his original rhetoric at all - in fact they have been a near opposite. Whether his ideas are correct or incorrect is not the issue here - his behavior is.
If we are to resolve this "class warfare", we must use "what works", not do the opposite.
The "occupiers" must be fully heard and honored and respected - and a resolution arrived at.
This is not a question of which side of the argument you are on, but a question of whether we are to do what works.
Mr. Obama (and the rest of you), are you willing to put "what works" ahead of politics?
As always, rational inputs that are helpful are welcomed.
The Rational NonPolitician
P.S. I am sad to see the opposite sides use this for political gain, for make wrong, for blame, or for any other purpose than an ethical one that is aimed at resolution and cooperation.
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