According to Democratic pollster Doug Schoen:
Research shows clearly that the movement doesn’t represent unemployed America and is not ideologically diverse.
Rather, it comprises an unrepresentative segment of the electorate that believes in radical redistribution of wealth, civil disobedience and, in some instances, violence.
Specifically …
- Half (52%) have participated in a political movement before
- Virtually all (98%) say they would support civil disobedience to achieve their goals
- Nearly one-third (31%) would support violence to advance their agenda.
- The vast majority of demonstrators are actually employed
- An overwhelming majority of demonstrators supported Barack Obama in 2008.
- Now 48% say they will vote to re-elect him in 2012, while at least a quarter won’t vote.
- 65% say that government has a moral responsibility to guarantee all citizens access to affordable health care, a college education, and a secure retirement—no matter the cost.
- By a large margin (77%-22%), they support raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, but 58% oppose raising taxes for everybody,
Schoen’s bottom line: Occupy Wall Street is a group of engaged progressives who are disillusioned with the capitalist system and have a distinct activist orientation.
The Homa Files 