Study: Americans Are Waking up to Class War

[marmar]

from AlterNet:



Study: Americans Are Waking up to Class War


Occupy Wall Street may have gone indoors for the winter, but class war is increasingly prevalent in the American consciousness. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that the number of Americans who see strong conflicts between the rich poor is rising among all demographics, and has become the majority opinion. Americans are not just waking up to the class conflict; they are also increasingly considering it to be more intense.

From Pew:

A new Pew Research Center survey of 2,048 adults found that about two-thirds of the public (66%) believes there are “very strong” or “strong” conflicts between the rich and the poor—an increase of 19 percentage points since 2009.

What's more:

three-in-ten Americans (30%) say there are “very strong conflicts” between poor people and rich people. That is double the proportion that offered a similar view in July 2009 and the largest share expressing this opinion since the question was first asked in 1987.

........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/761545/study%3A_americans_are_waking_up_to_class_war/

[BlueToTheBone]

1. The more people you make poor, the

getter the likelihood that they will notice the vast discrepancy.

[redqueen]

9. Another reminder of the sad fact that most people don't care

until things affect them personally. Then all of a sudden it matters.

[pampango]

2. From the Pew Poll linked in the OP:

Interesting the the biggest increase in the perception of class conflict from 2009 to 2011 came among whites though it is still strongest among Blacks.



The perception of conflict between Blacks and whites is the only one to decline at all. Not surprising given our experience with the first AA president.



Interesting that in 2009 the highest income group already had the highest perception of class conflict. The other groups have caught up now though the middle class group is the only one to exceed the rich's perception of class conflict in 2011.



Interesting that the young have had the greatest perception of class conflict. The biggest increase from 2009 to 2011 in the perception class conflict came among the 50-64 age group.

[Spazito]

3. Wow, a very interesting graph...

The increase in awareness is very clear and good news, imo, for the poor and the middle class, bad news for the 1%.

Thanks for posting this.

[FreakinDJ]

5. Largest Demographic to wake up to Class Warfare was the "Independents"

So for the "Obama Faithful" and other Political Operatives that means they arn't going to be able to fake it this time

[Spazito]

6. That's one way of reading it but...

I read it quite differently. The independents (real independents not repubs who vote repub but claim to be independent) are much more likely to see the repubs as defending the 1% as opposed to Democrats and the Obama administration.

The repubs, with their circular firing squad, are helping raise this issue themselves and it is making them look even worse, gotta love that.

There are only two parties in this election, the repubs and the Dems. Don't sell Independents short, they can see which party is more likely to protect the 1% and it is not the Dems or President Obama.

[FreakinDJ]

7. Democrats are certainly not making it easy to tell the 2 apart

The economy is the REAL issue of this election as every issue the 2 parties spout will be boiled down to it's economic effect to the Average Working American

Home foreclosures have simply stalled as the Foreclosure Mills grapel to come up with the correct paperwork and are not going away any time soon. Jobs numbers, like the December Sales Numbers are likely to be corrected downward and the reality of the 1% Controlled Economy is going to reside front and center as this year's election "Game Changer"

I just don't see Obama nor the Democrats seriously taking the lead in this issue and distinguishing themself as a "Leader"

It will boil down to "Who is most likely to stay at home"

[Spazito]

10. It seems that is the opinion of some out there in pundit land...

but, most of those really don't support the Dems anyway and usually vote third party or sit home so their effect on the upcoming election is questionable to say the least, imo.

[FreakinDJ]

11. All the early polling is saying Independents and Hispanics will decide 2012 Election

I don't know how to enterpit that othen then I'm seeing a lot of "Rally the Troops and Hope for the Best"

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. In 2010, the Blue-Dog Democrats thought similarly. Until a number of independents stayed home.

The independents have more than just a choice between the "two parties in this election."

The great majority of voters want liberals and progressives. They want economic fairness and the rule of law to be applied. How is it that we could send that message in 2006, 2008, 2010, and still have that message not be heard?

[lonestarnot]

4. woohoo.

Eat the rich!

[uponit7771]

8. Good!! Agregating power in the hands of the few wealthy is WORSE than power in the hands of governme

[w0nderer]

13. +1 n/t

[txlibdem]

14. I've got my fingers crossed

The wealthy few got that way by being the smartest and most careful psychopaths. Now they control all aspects of our lives.

Wake up, America. Just because a psychopath isn't a serial killer doesn't make him or her any less dangerous to society. Quite the contrary.

These are the rich:

http://www.cassiopaea.com/cassiopaea/psychopath.htm
THE PSYCHOPATH - The Mask of Sanity

Special Research Project of the Quantum Future School

Imagine - if you can - not having a conscience, none at all, no feelings of guilt or remorse no matter what you do, no limiting sense of concern for the well-being of strangers, friends, or even family members. Imagine no struggles with shame, not a single one in your whole life, no matter what kind of selfish, lazy, harmful, or immoral action you had taken.

And pretend that the concept of responsibility is unknown to you, except as a burden others seem to accept without question, like gullible fools.

Now add to this strange fantasy the ability to conceal from other people that your psychological makeup is radically different from theirs. Since everyone simply assumes that conscience is universal among human beings, hiding the fact that you are conscience-free is nearly effortless.

You are not held back from any of your desires by guilt or shame, and you are never confronted by others for your cold-bloodedness. The ice water in your veins is so bizarre, so completely outside of their personal experience, that they seldom even guess at your condition.