But the Occupy Wall Street protest, which has been burgeoning in dozens of other American locales, may gain traction with its slogan, "We are the 99%," says Lichtenstein.

"I have a little bit of empathy and anger for the protesters," said an executive assistant for an insurance firm near Wall Street. "I don't know what they're expecting."

Along the quieter streets east of Broadway, as Wall Street-types make their way along barricaded sidewalks for a sandwich, coffee or smoke, they're paying attention to the demonstrations.