Occupy Wall Street was evicted from Zucotti Park two years ago, but its effect on employees in the 50 states did not stop there. Numerous organizations sprung out of Occupy Wall Street, including Alternative Banking and Physicians for a National Health Program, which continue to benefit workers today.
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Alternative Banking
The Alternative Banking movement grew out of Occupy Wall Street. It continues in its original mission to educate the public about what is wrong with our banking industry, and about important and necessary financial industry reforms. Their first project was a deck of playing cards entitled 52 Shades of Greed.
In September 2013 the founders of the Alternative Banking movement launched their second major project, Occupy Finance. This book is available in hard copies and on the web. It describes how and why the financial system failed. Most importantly, it offers strategies for giving the majority of Americans, those who work for a living, a voice in the regulatory processes. These suggestions are to help empower people who make money and pay taxes protect their assets from the foibles of bankers and investment “specialists.”
Physicians for a National Health Program
In the beginning of OWS, Physicians for a National Health Program protested in support of a single-payer, publicly financed, universal health insurance plan. They continue to do so to this day.
As the federal government argues over what they will supply or require, and state governments wrangle over how they will structure health care for the millions of Americans who have lacked health insurance, there are still groups such as Physicians for a National Health Program who are advocating for putting the needs of people before insurance and pharmaceutical company profits.
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