Occupy Wall Street: Correct Sentiment, Wrong Target

      I recently watched an interview between Occupy Wall Street (OWS) organizer Harrison Schultz and Sean Hannity. I use the term interview in a general sense because Hannity wasn't very interested in hearing what 29-year old Mr. Schultz had to say. In Hannity's defense, Schultz came to the interview looking for a fight; however, I hold the more experienced Hannity to a higher standard. As an armchair philosopher, I am more interested in arriving at truth than I am at who wins an argument. Unfortunately, truth was the first casualty of this interview as both parties came out swinging from the beginning, yet every now and again a little flicker of light shined through the smoke and dust to reveal the younger Schultz has a point; the system is failing him and the rest of his generation. Young adults have every right to be angry; however, the focus of their anger is grossly misdirected. If he and his fellow OWS protestors continue to engage in violence, property damage, and animal-like behavior, they will fail in their cause to improve their future.
    

My dislike of Sean Hannity's particular interview style may give the false impression I am a supporter of the OWS movement; I am not. In spite of what Schultz tried to articulate as his own personal views on capitalism, I believe the OWS movement is a group of anarchist/socialists who believe they are entitled to the wealth of others who earned it. However, in fairness to Schultz, Hannity spent more time discrediting his guest than listening. If Hannity had thoughtfully engaged instead of viciously attacking the younger Schultz,  Hannity would have revealed Schultz didn't truly understand his reality. Hannity could have then explained that  Schultz's woes are the result of government, not corporate tyranny.

Young people have a legitimate gripe. They have few prospects for jobs and a government hell-bent on protecting its crony friends.  Schultz's tactics, worldview, and selfish pride are all flawed, and he would do well to spend a few years in the North Dakota oil patch to get his head and financial house in order. However, until his federal, state, and local governments: 1) stop enslaving young people with loans that are easy to obtain  but difficult to pay back; 2) end the requirements that employers  pay employment taxes, unemployment taxes, and workman’s compensation taxes  which make hiring young people cost prohibitive;  3) reduce the burdensome regulations that make starting a small business next to impossible for young entrepreneurs; and 4) stop heaping mounds of national debt on the shoulders of young people;  Schultz and his OWS friends will have difficulty respecting a system that seems to only work  for citizens over the age of 40.

While the OWS movement's current political niche seems to be in the far left fringe of the Democratic Party, young people aren't going to find any solutions to their problems there. The worst thing for them is even more debt and less economic growth. Democrat handouts like free education, health care and birth control may be appealing today, but responsible young people need to understand these goodies aren't really free; the bill just follows them into adulthood, and they will be forced to pay for them with interest when they start earning a living.

What our current government protected crony capitalist system offers Harrison Schultz and his generation is an adulthood promising slavery. The only peaceful opportunity for them is limited government. By shrinking the size and scope of government at all levels, the next generation will be able to compete fairly in an economic system that caters to their strengths. Without burdensome debt, high taxes, and a mountain of government regulations to hold them back, the natural energy, creativity, and courage that is characteristic of youth  will provide Harrison Schultz and the rest of his generation all the economic security they will ever need.