Welcome login | signup
Language en es fr
We are the 99 percent

Occupy Wall Street Survey

Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 21, 2011, 9:48 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Please take some time to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VSN6VW9

66 Comments

66 Comments


Read the Rules
[-] 2 points by parkplaceBK (2) 12 years ago

Sorry to complain but this is a strange survey. There was no way to answer Question 30 as someone below mentions. I also had no way to answer the marital status question, as I am in a domestic partnership. It seems many questions had odd wording, and should had answers of "frequently, sometimes," etc. instead of "strongly agree." I also know that a self-selected on-line survey is completely worthless in terms of reliability, so the main use should be for education and outreach, and this survey doesn't do that.

[-] 2 points by iloveallyall (2) from Austin, TX 12 years ago

Hi - I'm in the linguistics field and am concerned that perhaps #30 on this survey could be misleading. There is no way to answer the question correctly for those of us who fully understand and support OWS already. My only concern is that this could skew results when the answered surveys are assessed en masse. Apart from that, everyone keep up the amazing work!!! Let's keep the movement strong and peaceful. Austin, Texas loves OWS!!!! Together we can; together we will.

[-] 1 points by schuh072 (1) 12 years ago

Thank you for this most useful feedback! Keep more like this coming please!

[-] 1 points by Dubby (146) 12 years ago

Yeah that was a clunker.

[-] 2 points by Brehhah (17) from Montclair, NJ 12 years ago

When will results be posted?

[-] 2 points by jart (1186) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Here's the results from the last time we posted it: http://occupywallst.org/article/70-percent-ows-supporters-independent/

[-] 1 points by Johnw (44) 11 years ago

You are on the right track. Please read http://thenewthirdparty.blogspot.com.

[-] 1 points by EdmondSeymore (101) 12 years ago

Okay, the survey is closed. Can I see the survey to better understand the types of questiuons being asked?

[-] 1 points by Lerch (2) 12 years ago

I applaud and support your efforts.What suprises me is that Cuba can give free Education and Medical to it's people; but Canada and the great America won't.The North American system needs to be revamped. We also need to target CNN, CBS, FOX, CTV and others. They are the propagander machine. When they give coverage to the protest it is in a negative way.We are the 99% so stay united and focused.

[-] 1 points by Lerch (2) 12 years ago

I applaud and support your efforts.What suprises me is that Cuba can give free Education and Medical to it's people; but Canada and the great America won't.The North American system needs to be revamped. We also need to target CNN, CBS, FOX, CTV and others. They are the propagander machine. When they give coverage to the protest it is in a negative way.We are the 99% so stay united and focused.

[-] 1 points by europen (5) 12 years ago

send more messages to Europe, our media diminishes the importance of your

[-] 1 points by Cino (1) 12 years ago

DEMAND US legislation that gives US employees a seat on corporate Boards!!!!!!!!!!

"The German model of co-determination is unique. Formulated at the end of World War II, it was applied first in the coal and steel industries of West Germany following the war and gradually expanded to other sectors. Co-determination in Germany is regulated by the Co-operative Management Law (1951), amended in 1976, and the Workers Committee Law (1952), amended in 1972. Within the framework of the 1976 reform, the government broadened the laws' applicability to all firms throughout the German economy employing more than 2,000 workers. The German co-determination law (Mitbestimmungsgesetz) forms part of the bedrock of German industrial and company policy. it requires that just under half of companies' supervisory boards' members are representatives of workers. German company law is curious to an English speaker's eye, because it has not one but two boards of directors. Shareholders and trade unions elect members of a supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat). The chairman of the supervisory board, with a casting vote, is always a shareholder representative under German law. The supervisory board is meant to set the company's general agenda. The supervisory board then elects a management board (Vorstand), which is actually charged with the day to day running of the company. The management board is required to have one worker representative (Arbeitsdirektor). In effect, shareholder voices still govern the company for a number of reasons, but not least because the supervisory board's vote for the management will always be a majority of shareholders. Co-determination in Germany operates on three organisational levels:

  1. Board of directors: Prior to 1976, German coal and steel producers employing more than 1,000 workers commonly maintained a board of directors composed of 11 members: five directors came from management, five were workers' representatives, with the eleventh member being neutral. (Note: Boards could be larger as long as the proportion of representation was maintained.) In 1976, the law's scope was expanded to cover firms employing more than 2,000 workers; there were also revisions to the board structure, which now had an equal number of management and worker representatives, with no neutral members. The new board's head would represent the firm's owners and had the right to cast the deciding vote in instances of stalemate.

  2. Management: A worker representative sits with management in the capacity of Director for Human Resources. Elected by a majority of the Board of Directors, the workers' representative sits on the Board and enjoys the full rights accorded to that position.

  3. Workers committees: The workers committee has two main functions: it elects representatives to the Board of Directors and serves as an advisory body to the trade union regarding plant-level working conditions, insurance, economic assistance and related issues. The committee is elected by all the workers employed in a plant.

Thanks to the years during which a co-operative culture has been in place, management requests from workers for proposals to improve operations or increase productivity, for example, are no longer considered mere legal formalities; they represent recognition of the fact that workers play an important part in plant success. In tandem, a practical approach has evolved among both parties, with each aiming to reach decisions based on consensus. In addition, worker representatives no longer automatically reject every proposal for structural reform, increased efficiency of even layoffs; instead, they examine each suggestion from an inclusive, long-term perspective. At the core of this approach is transparency of information, such as economic data. Co-determination is thus practised at every level, from the local plant to firm headquarters.

Co-determination enjoys intractable support among Germans in principle. In practice, there are many calls for amendments to the laws in various ways. One of the main achievements seems to be that workers are more involved and have more of a voice in their workplaces, which sees a return in high productivity. Furthermore, industrial relations are more harmonious with low levels of strike actions, while better pay and conditions are secured for employees."

[-] 1 points by GinaLola (210) 12 years ago

Since we can't force them to do this plan and legislating it is a very long way off, can we just boycott them and bring them to their knees in the short term? See my Guerrilla Boycotting 101 Plan.

[-] 1 points by dcranmer (7) 12 years ago

the survey is mia

[-] 1 points by barb (835) 12 years ago

The survey is already closed, what's up with that?

[-] 1 points by Lmurguia7 (57) 12 years ago

Someone who responddded to my posting the other day suggested everyone taking a one day Credit Card vacation for its impact on bank fees.

Why not make it the same day we close our bank accounts -- November 5th. And then make it a weekly vacation -- say every Thursday, so they can see the results before the weekend.

Lynne Murguia

[-] 1 points by GinaLola (210) 12 years ago

I agree completely. For boycotts to work, they really need to be strong in messaging. They need to be organized, hit hard and hit long. It doesn't hurt to nasty gram their offices with avalanches of daily emails. Guerrilla Retail Warfare: Don't forget to boycott every product from large retailers that is imported. Buy only USA made so that your purchases at the cash registers only ring up a reorder for more USA goods, not imports. For electronics or items that do not have a USA made equivalent, put off the purchase or buy resale or refurbished. If the people of the US would wholeheartedly do this for two years, every manufacturing job and many of the related supply chain jobs would come back to the USA. This plan must be done with the daily email avalanching of every retailer you can think of with letters form letters explaining your reason for boycott,so that they do not mis-read the change in consumer trending.

[-] 1 points by Lmurguia7 (57) 12 years ago

Good, Gina -- but think we'd do well even if we start with 2 days ! (No?) Let's not be' greedy' (giggle).

In companionship ---

Lynne

[-] 1 points by GinaLola (210) 12 years ago

GUERRILLA BOYCOTTING 101: I like greedy boycotts where you turn your opponent into snibbiling bankrupt has-beens and scare the crap out of all their associates that had inter invested in them on Wall Street. Avoid all major retailers at any cost. Avoid any new purchasing of any imported products. Prepare to hang on for a long time if necessary by refurbishing what you already have, delaying major electronic purchases or buying resale and finding alternative to non-electronic items made in the USA to purchase new or buy resale so that cash registers are not able to ring up any inventory reorders for newly imported restocking items.Company stock is valued depending on cash register purchases. If purchasing plummets, so does stock values and so does the company. Daily email avalanche your own form letter to every retailer you can think of demanding that every consumer products from tools to exercise equipment to clothes to electronics have an USA equivalent on the shelves or your boycott of the retailer will go on indefinitely until they comply. This will bring the power back to the American consumer. worker and voter in a hurry.

[-] 1 points by stevemiller (1062) 12 years ago

Gina, I love boycotts. They work.

You want me to join you in the bottomless pit of ridiculous ignorance. I won't.

Read my blog to get specifics. Invite me to speak like Glenn Greenwald is invited. Its impossible to do this on a forum. I will speak for an hour and then I'll take questions until the very last question if it takes a week.

http://overthecoals.blogspot.com/

America has evolved into a country of liars in a deep trance.

Speaking directly with all Americans is impossible. The "political correctness" trance can only be removed like a cancer if a few Americans review the possibility they might be in a trance. The budget deficit is one of many issues that prove the deep trance.

"LIAR" is called flip-flop. Its baby talk for Americans in their trance.

[-] 1 points by GarnetMoon (424) 12 years ago

Tried to take it but it is closed...when will it re-open???

[-] 1 points by SAllicino (1) 12 years ago

Why not ask as many people as possible to not use their credit cards for one day. If this were to go global it might just have the banks take notice. Hitting them finincially where it hurts most is how I see it,

[-] 1 points by kennyk (1) 12 years ago

you are saying what "the silent majority" is thinking. the media( in the control of too few people) is only reporting certain aspects of the populations concerns. they say occupy wall street has no clear leaders. this is AMERICA for Gods sake. we don't have leaders, only representatives. OWS is a way to get WASHINGTON to stop trying to lead us,( they only seem to care about those who will help in their re-elections) and start REPRESENTING us.

[-] 1 points by alfi (469) 12 years ago

Informed Direct Democracy, the process by which the average well informed real public opinion is brought to the attention of all, directly, is now obviously made possible by the internet. Just as we have secure online banking, shopping, chat, forums, libraries, dictionaries, and many other types of large online services and gathering places of opinions and facts, we can have direct voting on ISSUES that affect everyone, accompanied by direct FACTUAL open sourced information available to all so we can KNOW what the issues are and how the issues affect people. The idea that most people are incapable of making direct decisions in their communities, governments, and international affairs because of lack of abilities, information, and lack of a practical method, is no longer tolerable. Most people on Earth, are perfectly capable of making sound decisions about any political, environmental, social issue, IF the people are provided with factual free open sourced information about the issues. Most people have enough common sense and reasoning abilities to understand and reach very reasonable solutions to all the issues we, the people of Earth, face today on local levels as well as global levels. Having poor education, as the 1% have turned our public education system into their consumer-worker brainwashing, is not the same as being stupid; and being trusting, as most people are, is not the same as being gullible, and is a virtue, not a weakness to be exploited by the greedy 1%. Most people should trust each other to share control over society together, not give up our liberties to a system of greed made by the 1% that's causing famine, wars financial desperation, poor education, and the destruction of our planet, all for MORE PROFIT FOR THE 1%. The internet already offers EVERYTHING that is needed to have Informed Direct Democratic voting on issues everywhere. All that is needed is for people to organize a system. This system should be started by the 99% Occupy International Movement right NOW, while there is still time. In a few short years, the PEOPLE OF EARTH could be voting on local politics and local issues, and on issues that affect their country, and global issues that affect everyone. Let's not allow the 1% to make us out to be a petty and shallow and selfish and cowardly poor VS rich movement. It's not about taking down rich people, it's about taking down GREED itself; most rich people have the same capacity for being reasonable as most poor people do. A real economic recovery is not accomplished by restoring the health of the financial institutions, because they measure their recovery in profit; we need to eliminate GREED from the financial system, because too-big-to-fail corporations reporting record profits does not equal healthy fair economy. The people can come up with MUCH better solutions together online NOW! It's time to stop handing over our control and trusting our representatives to make policies that reflect the will of the people, which they never do. We now have a system of greed running all governments and societies on Earth. Having the ability to vote AND BE INFORMED WITH THE FACTS about the issues directly as a people can FORCE our corrupt and greedy leaders to make the will of the people a reality. After all, in a Democratic society, the government's job is simply to administrate the process by which the will of the people is formulated into a body of laws and policies, which MOST people agree with, and then protect the peoples' rights to have such a Democracy. The government is sort of the secretary and the bodyguard of the people, not the authority for the people to be forced to follow even when most people disagree with its policies and decisions. In a true Democracy, the PEOPLE are the authority of the government. MOST PEOPLE ARE REASONABLE, give most people the power of direct voting on issues, and we will have very REASONABLE policies, everywhere. Remember, the key is the FREE OPEN SOURCED INFORMATION (kind of like wikipedia) accompanying the voting sites on the internet. So when reporters come to ask protesters on the streets what we are protesting for, what do we want, what are your demands (as if we were robbing a bank or something) we can say: "WE THE PEOPLE OF EARTH DEMAND DIRECT INFORMED DEMOCRACY ENABLED BY OUR CURRENT COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, WE DEMAND VOTING ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE DIRECTLY THROUGH THE INTERNET AND WE DEMAND THAT WE HAVE AN OFFICIAL OPEN SOURCED ONLINE LIBRARY OF FACTS ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES WE ARE VOTING FOR."

[-] 1 points by burnobama (3) 12 years ago

u idiots wanted obama in and now u want to cry about everything and occupy this and that. I love how everyone has time to occupy a park 24hrs a day, u must have alot of vacation time to not have to work, i wish i had it like that. Instead i go to school all day then go to work all night 5 dyas a week and work a 2nd job on sunday, would my job pay me to occupy wall street, can u guys write me a note

[-] 1 points by burnobama (3) 12 years ago

u idiots wanted obama in and now u want to cry about everything and occupy this and that. I love how everyone has time to occupy a park 24hrs a day, u must have alot of vacation time to not have to work, i wish i had it like that. Instead i go to school all day then go to work all night 5 dyas a week and work a 2nd job on sunday, would my job pay me to occupy wall street, can u guys write me a note

[-] 1 points by stevemiller (1062) 12 years ago

You want me to join you in the bottomless pit of ridiculous ignorance. I won't.

Read my blog to get specifics. Invite me to speak like Glenn Greenwald is invited. Its impossible to do this on a forum. I will speak for an hour and then I'll take questions until the very last question if it takes a week.

http://overthecoals.blogspot.com/

America has evolved into a country of liars in a deep trance.

Speaking directly with all Americans is impossible. The "political correctness" trance can only be removed like a cancer if a few Americans review the possibility they might be in a trance. The budget deficit is one of many issues that prove the deep trance.

"LIAR" is called flip-flop. Its baby talk for Americans in their trance.

[-] 1 points by Lmurguia7 (57) 12 years ago

REMINDER -- It was Bush who got us into this mess !

[-] 1 points by madeinusa (393) 12 years ago

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (Tea party republican favorite) top secretary urged Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings on Friday to instruct city police to remove Occupy Albany protesters from a downtown park near the state Capitol if they tried to remain there after an 11 p.m curfew.

A person familiar with the matter said Cuomo’s secretary, Larry Schwartz, called Jennings late Friday morning and said that State Police, who control half of the park that is partly owned by the state of New York and city of Albany, would remove any protesters who did not comply with a curfew. The position of the governor’s office was in contrast to an earlier plan by Albany police to leave the protesters alone if they were peaceful, even if they stayed overnight.

Occupy Albany demonstrators began arriving at Lafayette/Academy park around noon. Half of the space is state land, the rest city property.

Read Brendan Lyons’ full story here

[-] 1 points by Denali (5) 12 years ago

Sorry if this has already been posted, but here's the lasted Gallup Poll about American's attitudes about OWS: http://www.gallup.com/poll/150164/americans-uncertain-occupy-wall-street-goals.aspx

[-] 1 points by lma3214 (1) 12 years ago

Thank you for posting this link. Very interesting info and a lot more informative than the survey monkey study.

[-] 1 points by toxictoast (7) 12 years ago

Sadness. I missed the survey!

[-] 1 points by antirepublican (1) from Axton, VA 12 years ago

Tried to take. It says Survey Closed, Contact Author.

[-] 1 points by Jonahl (11) 12 years ago

I just tried to take the survey but it said it was currently closed. when does it reopen?

[-] 1 points by MarkDroy (1) from Southampton, MA 12 years ago

Occupy the voting booth!

[-] 1 points by theragingbull1984 (6) from Westbury, NY 12 years ago

there is no choose in the survey under education for trade school and im sure there is alot like me who didnt go to college but instead went to a trade school after high school. they should add that to the survey.

[-] 1 points by Gigi (1) 12 years ago

It was very very disappointing that none of these questions were stacked.... :/

[-] 1 points by anotherone773 (734) from Carlyle, IL 12 years ago

Survey answers need to better fit the questions.

[-] 1 points by 313girl (1) from Livonia, MI 12 years ago

To all on the ground, a resounding THANK YOU! There is no turning back now, we, YOU, have awakened the masses, do not be dissuaded. You have been a welcomed surprise, giving the country & the world HOPE for the future. I am so PROUD of the young people who have proven that they are not OWNED by the media or the elite...together we will change the world. ~53 years young, working 3 jobs to pay the bills, part-time college student trying to make my life better. OCCUPY.

[-] 1 points by Lmurguia7 (57) 12 years ago

With all the talk about Wall Street, I've yet to see a single person commit to selling all financial holdings -- and there are many protesting who do have investments.

This is the only way to REALLY impact Wall Street machinations -- and, also, Bank Transfer Day on November 5 -- close bank accounts and deposit funds in a credit union near you.

Let me be the first !

Lynne Murguia (retired NYC teacher; former NGO to the UN; micro-credit practitioner; funder; investor) Tucson, AZ

[-] 1 points by GinaLola (210) 12 years ago

Done already.

[-] 1 points by TheHumanoidTyphoon (30) from Coral Springs, FL 12 years ago

!!!!! Yes I have done so as well.

Brilliantly said.

[-] 1 points by maxi (5) 12 years ago

I did that years ago :)

[-] 1 points by Lmurguia7 (57) 12 years ago

Why didn't you tell us (giggle)?

[-] 1 points by chimpsmacker (1) from Durham, NC 12 years ago

Mostly done already. Last bit to be done shortly.

[-] 1 points by Lmurguia7 (57) 12 years ago

Must be true --- we attract what we are. Great being here with you !

[-] 1 points by sikdrumz (2) 12 years ago

love what you all are doing! keep it up! fully supported in so-cal, USA! everybody i talk to is behind your cause! i will be sending donations but i cant take a police beating in the head without giving one back (which will mess up your message of peaceful protesting). i fully respect your position. i will be iin the revolution if it gets messy. until then.. peace

[-] 1 points by sikdrumz (2) 12 years ago

love what you all are doing! keep it up! fully supported in so-cal, USA! everybody i talk to is behind your cause! i will be sending donations but i cant take a police beating in the head without giving one back (which will mess up your message of peaceful protesting). i fully respect your position. i will be iin the revolution if it gets messy. until then.. peace

[-] 1 points by defenderofthemeek (1) 12 years ago

I love OWS, but guys--this survey is really inefficient, full of multiple questions that could be better served with a checkbox or two...

defenderofthemeek.com

[-] 1 points by Arrow (1) 12 years ago

Wow, i was expecting a survey about what I thought were the most important issues. who give a f...about what main stream media i get my news from. please ...survey is a great idea for extended populist idea generating. stop with the media fixation. Arrow

[-] 1 points by eatgoodbreadSC (1) from St Helena Is, SC 12 years ago

Media diet is a big problem, visualize it as obesity and a couch. Too many people don't think about where they get their news, don't consider the source, hence the lying liars who lie on teevee everyday. I bet this survey will show OWS supporters are better informed-- that's on placards throughout the marches, 'educate yourselves'. One media source that was not surveyed is print media beyond newspapers- local rags (great community stuff) and pubs like Harper's Monthly, Ms. Mother Jones-- they have subscribers because they investigate, write, and think. - Lisa

[-] 1 points by Skyrider1776 (3) from Brooklyn, NY 12 years ago

WOW!! ...I will be passing this on, most definitely. Thank you all Citizens of The United States of America! Beautiful Song!

[-] 1 points by Skyrider1776 (3) from Brooklyn, NY 12 years ago

WOW!! ...I will be passing this on, most definitely. Thank you all Citizens of The United States of America! Beautiful Song!

[-] 1 points by gopeople (1) 12 years ago

The answers to the survey change when the cursor is moved. Fix it or you will have inaccurate surveys.

[-] 1 points by vhsvhs (1) 12 years ago

I am glad you are gathering demographic information, but question #42 is FRUSTRATING at best and INSULTING at worst. Question #42 ignores the fact that marriage is illegal for a large population of the people supporting the #OWS movement, including myself! Can you please, at least, add "partnered" or "civil union" as an option? Thanks.

[-] 1 points by joyfullyone (12) 12 years ago

a great essay written about occupy wall street: http://www.realitysandwich.com/occupy_wall_street_no_demand_big_enough

[-] 0 points by Bender (98) from Meriden, CT 12 years ago

im glad this is getting around. eisenstein's an excellent writer.

[-] 1 points by gardenguy (27) 12 years ago

A survey is great, but what about an in-person, purple finger vote as a means of establishing a consensus? Democracy, not corporatocracy!

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[-] 1 points by ARealNewYorker (227) from Brooklyn, NY 12 years ago

I'm assuming that you had a limited set of options, but if you didn't, why did the survey mostly consist of "agree/disagree" options? It doesn't make a lot of sense when you're being asked factual questions, especially when you look at the full set of options (do I "strongly agree" or only "mostly agree" that I've heard of OWS before taking this survey??).

[Removed]

[-] 1 points by RedDread (57) from Bethel, CT 12 years ago

The demographics of our movement. Showing that we are not a bunch of white old men a la Tea Party. We are a diverse group because what we are fighting for rises above the individual!

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[-] 1 points by rarara (27) 12 years ago

Thanks, this is interesting! It would have been even more interesting to ask about the level of personal debt that people have, an issue that comes up regularly in the testimonies on the Wearethe99% website. And questions of content of political opinions were completely missing. That's too bad. Also, how many of the individuals voted Obama? (How many did so as a "better of two evils" and how many did so because they believed in him?) How many people are members of labor unions? How many people have participated in protests before? These types of things would be really interesting to see in a statistical study, rather than having to rely completely on newspaper articles based heavily on speculation and/or a few hand-picked or random participant samples. Keep up the good work!

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[-] 0 points by oldfatrobby (129) 12 years ago

According to a survey of Zucotti Park protesters by the Baruch College School of Public Affairs published on October 19, of 1,619 web respondents, 1/3 were older than 35, half were employed full-time, 13% were unemployed and 13% earned over $75,000. 27.3% of the respondents called themselves Democrats, 2.4% called themselves Republicans, while the rest, 70%, called themselves independents[41]

On Oct. 10 and 11, the polling firm Penn, Schoen & Berland interviewed nearly 200 protesters.[42] Half (52%) have participated in a political movement before, 98% would support civil disobedience to achieve their goals, and 31% would support violence to advance their agenda. Most are employed; 15% are unemployed.

31% support violence. Wow. I wonder how that will work out,

[-] 0 points by bobby (58) from Quincy, CA 12 years ago

VOTE COUNTING MINISTRY, DIRECT DEMOCRACY (DD) EBALLOT:

http://usparliament.org/v-h-dd.php

Eballot includes fifty proposals from occupywallst.org blog and seventy proposals nominated from 8th USA Parliament members, all listed on a single parliamentary ranked choice direct democracy eballot.

http://USParliament.org

A coalition of Americans united for the purpose of establishing truly representative government

[-] 0 points by MichaelMoosman (48) from Murray, UT 12 years ago

Could you post the link so we can see the results?

Here is a link to another survey discussing our message and demands and it displays the results. http://owssurvey.org

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]

[Removed]