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Subscribe to RSSNEW YORK -- This Saturday marks one month since Occupy Wall Street protesters set-up camp at Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan. Since then the demonstrations have spread to dozens of cities across the country. This weekend, a global day of protests is planned, and organizers say they expect events to be held in more than 800 cities in 71 countries.
Clearly, the movement appears to be growing. Now we have some new information about how the rest of the country views what’s happening in Zuccotti Park and beyond.
From an NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll released Wednesday:
- 37% of the country tends to support the movement; 18% oppose; 25% have no opinion. That’s more than those who say they support the Tea Party -- just 26% say they support it, while 64% say they do not.
- The movement is most popular in the Northeast, where people tend to support it 48%-15%. It is least popular in the South where 30% support, 22% oppose.
- Perhaps counter-intuitively, the movement has its highest support among the highest income earners, (those making more than $75,000 year): 40% support, 24% oppose. Among the poorest, however, it is also popular (less than 30K year): 35% support, 11% oppose.
- Among ethnic groups, the protests are popular among African-Americans, 41% support, 7% oppose; among Hispanics 35% support, 15 oppose; among Whites 37% support, 18% oppose.
- Among political parties, unsurprisingly, the movement is most popular among Democrats (56%-6%), and least popular among Republicans, where a plurality do not support 17%-34%. Independents support 34%-17%.
Since the demonstrations started there have also been nagging questions about what protesters believe in, and what they want. Early last week New York Magazine conducted an informal survey of 100 protesters at Zuccotti Park to gauge their views on everything from President Obama to capitalism. A few snippets are below.
What do you think of Obama?
- I believed in him, and he let me down: 40
- He’s doing great: 1
- I never believed in him: 27
- He’s doing the best he can: 22
Did you vote in the 2010 midterm elections?
- Yes: 39
- No: 55
- No, but only because I wasn’t 18:
Rank yourself on the following Scale of Liberalism:
- Not liberal at all: 6
- Liberal but fairly mainstream (i.e., Barack Obama): 3
- Strongly liberal (i.e., Paul Krugman): 12
- Fed up with Democrats, believe country needs overhaul (i.e., Ralph Nader): 41
- Convinced the U.S. government is no better than, say, Al Qaeda (i.e., Noam Chomsky): 34
For more from the field on Occupy Wall Street, check out msnbc.com's Field Notes blog.
*** UPDATE *** We checked to see how the supporters and opponents of Occupy Wall Street broke down in their approval or disapproval of President Obama.
Those who tend to support the protesters, said they approved of the president's job 61%-35%.
Those who tend to oppose the protesters, did not approve of the president's job by an 11%-88%
Those with no opinion were 42%-49%.
The margin of error on this question is +/-3.55%.
Leave a Comment:
If you were president and half of the congress despised you how much headway do you think you could accomplish.
I don't blame congress for the deadlock, I blame the people who voted to pit polar opposites against each other.
Most voters don't think and they deserve what they get.
Yes, they got exactly what they deserved with Obama. Now the tide will be to get rid of the socialist and preserve our freedom and capitalist system. Throw the freeloaders out of the parks!
They also got what they deserved with Bush. And that was, by far, the worst end of the deal.
Quite frankly, I'm happy with divided govt. If we could just get the President to stop legislating by unelected bureaucrats, I'd really be happy. If congress will quit spending us into oblivion, our economy will work it's way out of this. Americans are the solution to America's problems, not government.
I think I will trust this poll over http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2011/11/occupy-wall-street-favor-fading.html NBC's poll
CHIMES OF FREEDOM
I was listening to a segment of a talk show & the commentator was watching the beating of Occupy protestors by police. She was audibly wincing at the brutality of it & since most of us have seen or experienced it through media or first hand, you could empathize with the commentator’s discomfort. The part of her reaction that I thought remarkable, though, was her comment. It was something along the lines of why are they, and I am paraphrasing, the protestors, still out there in winter. They’ve made their point, they’ve got the conversation going, and it seems to be just about turf now. Why do they keep getting brutalized over turf? Maybe it’s time to back off. Now, I know that my paraphrasing may be somewhat imprecise, but I felt that here is a progressive voice, a “supporter” of the Occupy Movement, calling for a ceasefire, an end to hostilities. I think there needs to some clarity here. First, I would like to recall a song written & performed by Bob Dylan, among other recording artists, in 1964. The first refrain goes like this:
“”Far between sundown's finish an' midnight's broken toll
We ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing
As majestic bells of bolts struck shadows in the sounds
Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing
Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
And for each an' every underdog soldier in the night
And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.””
The founding father’s continental army has been described as a rag-tag band of rebels, ill clothed, ill equipped militarily, under funded. I bet they looked unkempt, their hair was long and they probably went unwashed for weeks at a time. They had a burning desire for independence and were willing to pay the ultimate price to see to it that their children and their children’s children grew up in a better world, a nation of their own making. With great sacrifice they saw that happen and our great nation with its Constitution and Declaration of Independence a shining beacon and example for the downtrodden of the world. You can’t help but feel we are living through that age again, that those patriots who so heroically gave their lives to see freedom for all have returned in spirit to inhabit the souls and minds of those who are marching again. The beatings and abuse the Occupy protestors take is not about turf. It is the rebirth of our nation. Those who can read the words of that Dylan tune and not be touched by it have lost their soul. Yes, the Occupy protestors are rag-tag, unkempt, and smelly, just like all the true warriors and patriots that have fought and died for this country for the past two hundred years. They are putting their lives on the line for something greater than themselves. They are heroes and patriots, each and every one. They deserve nothing less than our undying respect, gratitude, love, and support, for they our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, our neighbors. We need to be willing to do our part to support them whenever and wherever we can. So you nay-sayers, Tories, trans-national and corporate invaders and their lobbyists, politicians, talking heads, and all the other critics and kings men and their armies; BE AWARE! We Are Gazing Upon The Chimes Of Freedom Flashing.
Reality check dude. Your jibberish sounds like Political Science and Philosophy 101 classes I took back in 1979. Utopia sucks Live in reality....
I think that Mr. Obama will be a human version of a 1955 Buick. In 1955, The California Highway Patrol okayed, 270 copies of a model not made to the public, a 1955 Buick Century, 2-Dr. Sedan to be used a Highway Patrol cars. The Buicks used The Roadmaster top of the line engine & some had column stickshifts & some had automatics a 135/135 ratio & what made the CHiPs complained about was the brakes in the cars & 1955 was the only year Buicks were CHiP Patrol cars & in 1956, Dodges became the CHiP patrol cars. If Obama doesn't play his cards right he will be the first and last African-American President. So that's the story on Mr. Obama and the 1955 CHiP Buick Centurys. Hiroshima X
Surprise another racist republican. Yeah, if Obama doesn't get re elected, no other black person ever will again! Hope you aren't breeding, there are too many of you racist fools already.
Too bad. Monkey see sex, monkey do sex. They DO have some logic skills!
News Flash!~bah humbug to health care Scrooge loses popularity contest to "Santa giving "handouts" to Tiny Tim. Gee what a surprise!
Ouch!That's gotta hurt! Spin time!
What a joke, nobody in the working class supports the OWS freeloader hippy panhandlers.
That's a big problem for republicans if "nobody" decides to vote.
In 5 years the nightmare will be over...
Of course this would come from the trash that is MSNBC. The question should have read like this:
Do you support The OWS gangs and anarchists and their communistic, socialistic and violent takeover of our city streets in order to steal your hard earned tax money and give it to selfish college kids and thankless welfare recipients who want the world and not work for it?
More popular? You mean, more out of work than tea baggers, who by the way, know how to conduct themselves unlike the dirt baggers who act more like mongrels than protesters. Their movement is more like a bowel movement. A repulsive lot. Democ-rats no doubt.
i AGREE 100 %
Naw, you're right. The OWS types are dirty, shiftless, communist liberal neohippies just like all the other folks ticked off at the big banks these days.
What other possible reason could anyone have for being upset? Certainly not anything the banks did.
If you ask 10 commies who they like stalin or reagan , I bet more would support Stalin
OWS are a bunch of loser malcontentens ie the typical Democrat.
FOX NEWS IS MORE POPULAR THE MSNBC, NBC, CBS & ABC
I TOOK A POLL, ITS OFFICIAL!!
Last I checked just a week ago, most Americans did NOT support OWS or their hostile occupation of Wall St. NBC, a left-wing "news" organization, conducted the poll
Against stupidity the Gods themselves contend in vain!
So - the American populace is incredibly stupid. That's news?
I fully support ALL that the true spirit of OWS stands for. I laugh at the fear of those that are near violently opposed. I also find no solace in the fact that OWS is still gaining in popularity and participation even if it may not be in the parks. There is an idea behind the movement that will not be torn down and that I applaud. That this had to happen is sad, truly sad, but it was needed. It's time had come some time ago come.
Dissenters or objectionists say there are no leaders for OWS. I know many names of leaders of this movement. They wrote the Constitution, they founded this great nation, they were highly principled men and probably in the background women who remained at home keeping their families and lands working and being. Names such as Jefferson, Washington, Franklin and lesser names such as Paul Revere and Patrick Henry, Clara Barton, those who fought and died near nameless now. There are the leaders... go on attack them, attack their ideals, slur their names for considering everyone not just themselves and their fortunes. Slander the first settlers who came here seeking freedom from persecution. Denounce the forefathers of the very people who now say Occupy is not good. Your own families traced back far enough came here to better their lot in life. They did not come here to create a second class of citizens as Newt would have us do with Red Cards so we had near slave labor to pick the crops and have no pathway. You the opposition demean yourself when you speak out against those less fortunate. You claim religious ideals and principles yet you do it to these the least of your God's children. Your hypocrisy knows no bounds no limits. Who was it if not the money lenders that were chased from the Temple? Doomed to repeat history is not just a thought it is often a fact one you will one day come to know and comprehend the true meaning of or at least such is the promise of your God. Your humor with slurs is no different than what that was uttered in the Court of the English King when he taxed the colonies and the colonists whom he considered dirty rabble not worth a damn thing. However they won out and they formed the very nation you not Occupy seek to destroy. I for my part am proud of every member of Occupy and I am not what you describe Occupy to be...not in years... nor wealth...nor possessions. I am truly greatful for my beliefs and stand with Occupy
"Your humor with slurs ( against OWS) is no different than what that was uttered in the Court of the English King when he taxed the colonies..."
Speaking of the English King taxing the Colonies.........that reminds me of the Democrat Party.
That's all the Democrat Party is good at.........raising taxes on hard working Americans.
I have to give the republicans credit: they do stay on message. The financial crisis was all due to too much government regulation/bonuses to CEO's that wrecked their companies are just part of the free market system/we need more tax cuts because that will reduce the deficit/yadda yadda
I haven't been to an OWS rally yet but I'm with them.
hey Dave,
You forgot that Barney Frank and the Democrats forced the banks to lend to people who didn't actually qualify for a mortgage. This had a lot to do with the financial crisis.
Leona,
You certainly are consistently misinforming! I MUST give you that. Barney's just one of the many which have used too much unchecked power to dismantle the stability of our economy with agendas geared toward enrichment of the ultra wealthy and the consolidation of Wealth further upwards, oftimes in the name of 'helping Americans'.
Partisan finger pointing without balance is the sign of a weak mind and a treachorous provocateur. From either the far Left or Right.
Ignorance of the facts is not an excuse. Nor is manipulation/omission of the complicity of BOTH Parties offering up any base to found a valid discussion of correcting the near treasonous levels in which the US Government is fostering America's, as well as much the rest of the World's, demise.
Go try and find a flourishing Coral Reef with healthy Marine Life populations. Destroyed in the name of greed, sans stewardship. The terrestrial species follow suite, so petty and ultimately false accusations only further supplant you as worth replying to, let alone take seriously.
Until we all unite in calling the farce of propaganda generated by the World's Governments and War Machines, our's being the most menacing, no solutions can be made viable.
OWS may not be the final solution, but it certainly is offering a theme which resonates to and for the many, not just the self serving individuals which hijacked the original Tea Party ideals with inaccurate rhetoric based on false/biased data ultimately supporting the top tier of Money Wranglers.
Perhaps it is too late.
Peace
feisty and your so called friends i am sorry my sperm made you and i aplogize to your mammy if i had known what an aberration i was making i surely would have withdrawn!!!!!
feisty and your so called friends i am sorry my sperm made you and i aplogize to your mammy if i had known what an aberration i was making i surely would have withdrawn!!!!!
feisty and your so called friends i am sorry my sperm made you and i aplogize to your mammy if i had known what an aberration i was making i surely would have withdrawn!!!!!
Whatever! What is the matter with you dopey people?
I have no idea of how this poll was conducted, but it doesn't pass the smell test with me. I haven't met 5 people who think that OWS is a good thing. Most people I know and interact with believe that they are irresponsible, filthy, mooching, and pretty much worthless. I'm not enamored with those who have broken the law in Wall Street, but believe there is a better way to approach this.
There is a lot more "gimmee people" than tea party folk out there, so that accounts for why the "Occupy" protests appears to be more popular. Also, note, it is more popular in the NE, where all the liberals are located. Just sayin'.
sure it is, on The Daily Kos website