BenU Releases Occupy Chicago Survey Findings

Benedictine University researchers found Occupy Chicago protestors pin blame for the U.S. economic crisis on big business, Wall Street and Republicans, while also suggesting that violence against the government is sometimes necessary.

Faculty and student members surveyed 139 Occupy Chicago members in October to gauge perspectives on the Occupy movement which has sprung up in cities around the country. Generally, the survey determined local members to be college-educated liberals who support gay marriage and higher taxes on the rich, according to a statement from the school.

Researchers acknowledge final analysis of the results have not been completed, but explain the survey provides a more in-depth look into the movement and the supporters’ backgrounds, the university said.

Among the findings:

• Most are white males who dislike the Republican Party and Tea Party movement, while giving positive views of Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
• 77 percent are registered voters.
• 84 percent of members support higher taxes for Americans making more than $250,000.
• 75 percent said President Obama’s policies favor the rich, while giving Obama a 33-percent approval rating.
• 58 percent agreed that violence against government can be justified.
• 56 percent agreed with GOP critics that the auto industry bailout wasn’t necessary, while also blaming the Bush Administration for economic woes inherited by Obama.

Phil Hardy, a Benedictine political science professor and a survey organizer, finds the view of potential violence surprising because Occupy protests have been largely non-violent. If protests do not remain peaceful, Hardy questioned whether Obama and other liberals, as well as moderate Republicans, would be willing to align themselves with the Occupy movements heading into the 2012 elections.

“If it stays non-violent and they have a reasonable message, then I would expect some sympathy, at least from the Democrats as we go into 2012,” Hardy said, noting that would be the particular case if teachers, nurses and other labor workers show support for the Occupy movement.

The Occupy survey was also done to measure responses in comparison to similar research done with Tea Party members in 2010. For example, only one-in-four Tea Party supporters supported the idea of using violence against the government if necessary, Hardy said.

The researchers are considering the pursuit of additional funding to conduct similar research with Occupy movements in other U.S. cities, Hardy said.

Benedictine’s survey results were released this week as freshman U.S. Representative Joe Walsh offered his view of the Occupy movement in a Chicago Tribune story where he called Occupy supporters, among other things, “spoiled.”