“Occupy Wall Street” Discussion Launches New Program “90 Minutes with America“

October 17, 2011

Panelists discussing at the American Center.

The first discussion under the new “90 Minutes with America” series of programs addressed on October 13 the “Occupy Wall Street” protest movement which appeared in New York about a month ago and since then has spread to several North American cities. According to some people, we are witnessing a new phenomenon inspired by Cairo’s Tahrir Square demonstrations, but with purely American roots and faithful to American traditions.

Others say protests are a lacking unifying ideology and leaders will fade away soon. “It’s a spontaneous and authentic activity controlled by no one from behind.  Opposition toward expansive federal government has a tradition in the U.S.,” said one of the panelists, Jan Machacek of Respekt weekly.

Another discussion participant, Marek Hudema of Hospodarske noviny, believed the “Occupy Wall Street” movement is kind of a polar opposite of the Tea Party movement, and could have a similar impact on American politics. The panelists also talked about the challenges the U.S. banking sector faces and they compared the situation in the U.S. with other countries, such as China and Germany.