Does Occupy Wall Street have a future in politics?

So do these developments signal a shift in Occupy’s focus from demonstrations to political engagement? The short answer is no.” Occupy erupted because the political system is corroded and corrupted, many would say completely broken,” says William Dobbs, a press liaison from Occupy Wall Street’s New York base. ”There are lots of approaches, but you can’t fix a legislature with a person or a PAC.”

From the beginning, Occupy Wall Street has been a diffuse movement with no single leader, centered on the message that the political and financial systems have catered only to the country’s elite. Throughout the fall, when I asked Occupiers about political engagement, the answers were as diverse as the people demonstrating. Many wanted to jump in and change the system; just as many, if not more, wanted to steer clear of politics completely and focus on removing greed and corruption. “We want to be a squeaky wheel for economic justice outside of the system to get the attention of those in power.” Dobbs says.

“Those we elect to stand between the people and the powerful have sold their souls,” Kleinman wrote on his Facebook page. “We need champions of the people… to win our democracy back.” While he may garner the support of many in the Occupy movement, he shouldn’t expect an official endorsement, even if his platform closely parallels the movement’s. “Occupy doesn’t endorse candidates or parties,” Dobbs says. “The pressure is on, no matter who’s in power because last generation has left the 99 percent behind.”