Editorial: Occupy Pittsburgh underdeveloped, unorganized

Pittsburgh is now a hub of the currently decentralized Occupy Wall Street movement. Pittsburgh is now a hub of the currently decentralized Occupy Wall Street movement.

In an editorial last week, we applauded the movement’s use of technology to spread its message, but now we’re shaking our heads at the disorganization that has bubbled up in several cities across the country, including ours.

Occupy Wall Street essentially stands against the greed of major corporations, championing the middle class. But what does Occupy Pittsburgh advocate?

According to its website, Occupy Pittsburgh is “currently preparing” its demands, purpose and other organizational documents, which will reflect specific problems in the region. But we think it shouldn’t coordinate and publicize events when its true purpose has yet to be defined.

We have no problem whatsoever with civil protests, but there is little merit in a movement that doesn’t even state what it stands for. There’s no reason to localize a major protest if there is no local purpose. It’s unclear exactly what the group wants to occupy, considering that our financial district is nowhere near as large or influential as Wall Street..

If Occupy Pittsburgh wants to be successful and attract those who are actually interested in change, it should focus on major local issues, like Highmark and UPMC’s ongoing health care war. The dispute between the two medical-care giants might cause people to limit their hospital options — or pay the price — in just a couple of years. That’s just one issue in one city, but it affects thousands and thousands of people.

Highmark and UPMC’s battle is something specific to speak up about, more so than vague assertions about corporate greed. Corporations’ products, including those from computer manufacturers, various media outlets and cell phone providers, are — ironically — helping make the entire campaign possible. What kind of message is that supposed to send?

At this point, Occupy Pittsburgh is the harebrained, illegitimate child of Occupy Wall Street and the Internet. Although it causes many good, efficient thinkers to congregate and share ideas, the Internet is also a lightning rod for misinformation and misinterpretation. We think Occupy Pittsburgh falls victim to the latter.

Because of the insane, exponential growth of the movement thanks to people’s interconnectedness through the Internet, informed, passionate protesters become displaced by bandwagoners who want nothing but to say that they were part of the movement. This is a flaw unique to a generation rooted in technology.

This Saturday, Oct. 15, Occupy Pittsburgh plans to hold a march and rally Downtown. According to the organization’s website, “Details will be posted as they become available.” We understand that a grassroots approach to change can’t be constructed overnight, but a plan and a purpose is essential for an effective event that doesn’t waste its members’ time.

The time-wasting begins with location. Pittsburgh is no Wall Street. What is there to occupy? But make no mistake: The Pittsburgh media will cover the event as if it is actually accomplishing something.

We think Occupy Pittsburgh has two options: It should chalk up its precise point of existence before marching this Saturday, or it should disband into smaller, more efficient groups that tackle specific issues in the community. Without a goal, the group’s efforts lead to nothing: no change and no satisfaction.

Rather than taking a misdirected march onto Pittsburgh’s streets, Occupy Pittsburgh should examine itself — why does it really exist? It’s a small step, but a necessary one. Perhaps once it actually figures out its objectives, motives and goals, its marches and rallies will have meaningful tones, not just the same old rhetoric made popular by its predecessor.

And once Occupy Pittsburgh decides what it wants to be as a movement and actually applies itself to serving as a conduit for the ideas of the common Pittsburgh citizen, maybe we — and others — will start listening.