Over the past month, the crusaders at Zuccotti Park have braved the elements, tussled with police, and stood their ground against Mayor Bloomberg. But how much do the protesters actually know about the economic system that they're fighting to change? To find out, we asked 50 occupiers a series of questions about Wall Street, taxes, and government. The results were mixed. See if you can do better.
• What is the Dodd–Frank Act? 84% did not know.
• Who is the chairman of the Federal Reserve? 42% said “Don’t know.” 38% said Bernanke.
• Who is Elizabeth Warren? 64% said “Don’t know.” 24% said “professor/senatorial candidate.” 10% said “Warren Buffet’s wife.”
• What is the “SEC”? 68% said “Don’t know.”
• What is the top marginal income tax rate for the richest 1 percent? Only 10% got it right (35%).
• What does the government spend more on? Health care and pensions, education or the military? 94% said “the military” when the correct answer is “health care and pensions” at 43%, Defense is at 20%.
Read more at nymag.com • What is the Dodd–Frank Act? 84% did not know.
• Who is the chairman of the Federal Reserve? 42% said “Don’t know.” 38% said Bernanke.
• Who is Elizabeth Warren? 64% said “Don’t know.” 24% said “professor/senatorial candidate.” 10% said “Warren Buffet’s wife.”
• What is the “SEC”? 68% said “Don’t know.”
• What is the top marginal income tax rate for the richest 1 percent? Only 10% got it right (35%).
• What does the government spend more on? Health care and pensions, education or the military? 94% said “the military” when the correct answer is “health care and pensions” at 43%, Defense is at 20%.
I'm sure if you asked a Tea Partier they could give the right answer.
Allen West expressed criticism of the Occupy Wall Street protests.
“I think the hypocrisy of this movement is somewhat laughable,” he declares. “I would agree with them that we don’t need to have crony capitalism in the United States of America, where we have government picking winners or losers in the free market or trying to be a venture capitalist. But when I see signs that these people are holding up signs saying ‘end capitalism,’ then my question is: What do you replace it with?
“I think there is a danger in the people on Capitol Hill starting to embrace this movement, especially now that we know that the American Nazi Party and the American Communist Party are also starting to align themselves with this Occupy movement.
“When you really start to peel the onion back and look at some of the things these protesters want to see in America, it is contradictory to the foundational principles and values that we have in the United States.
If Howard Stern sees through these idiots it's only a matter of time before everyone starts looking closer at these protests. I love it when these people talk. It's better then a comedy show. I know the main stream media isn't covering these protesters, but they are passing up some great entertainment. Maybe they could have a game show with these Occupy protester and call it Occupy Are you smarter then a 1st grader? Somehow I think the first graders would give more lucid answers. I wonder where all those haroin needs go when they are done with them?
The sad thing is this isn't a joke. These people are really like this. These are the people Obama and the Democrats stand with. But there is a silver lining to all this. This is the beginning of the end for all of them.
