Occupy wall street far more popular than tea party
A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows that Americans support the Occupy Wall Street protesters by a two-to-one margin (37% in favor, 18% opposed.) While more Americans view the Tea Party negatively (28% in favor, 41% opposed.)
And, a recent Time Magazine poll found even more positive results for Occupy Wall Street, showing 54% held a favorable view of the movement, compared to just 27% with a favorable view of the Tea Party.
Why is this?
Because there is a deep strain of anti-establishment feeling in America which started at the end of the Bush Administration. It is the reason Barack Obama was elected.
Both the Tea Party and the Occupy movement share a frustration. Though they are very different in the objects of their frustration. Occupy is frustrated with the financial system. The Tea Party is frustrated with government.
Occupy is concerned with social and economic inequality, corporate greed and influence over government. Occupy's slogan, "we are the 99%" refers to income inequality in the U.S. between the top 1%, who control 40% of the wealth, and the rest of the population.
The Tea party looks at politicians and government as the problem and has the backing of billionaires like the Koch brothers.
Occupy looks at the influence of money, Wall Street, and big banks on government and elected officials as the problem. The movement is in 70 cities and 600 communities throughout the country.
A Washington Post- Pew Research Center poll shows the majority of Tea Party support comes from Republicans, while backing for Occupy protests arises from Democrats. Occupy has met with near universal derision from Republicans. Mitt Romney called them "dangerous." House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) claimed they were a "mob." Herman Cain denounced them as "un-American." Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) said the protests were an "attack upon freedom."
Is it any surprise the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (signed into law 7/21/10) passed the House along party lines (223 -202) and the Senate (59 - 39) once again along party lines? The GOP continues to paint the law as big- government over regulation.
A volunteer with Occupy Wall Street stated, "business folks should be able to make money... but we have to have a culture to come together, take care of each other, and make sure that the consolidation of wealth and power doesn't mean that folks who have the most are also rigging the game for the future. And that's what's happening."
This is a social justice message that is consistent with the traditional Democratic message. That's why if there was a logical political alignment for the Occupy movement, it would be with the Democratic party.
And for sure, neither Occupy protesters or Democrats want to promote the Bush legacy of unregulated speculation which does harm to our economy and communities.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school, and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is currently neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com)
Richard O. Schwab
830 Congress Ave.
Glendale, Ohio 45246
H.513-771-4397
