(Fallon Forbush & Rachael Peli) Blocks away from the DC office of 463 Communications is a muddy and messy McPherson Square. The Occupy DC protesters have camped here and in Freedom Plaza for the past four months, most recently fighting eviction from public land this past week.
All recent news aside, the Occupy movement has been called a “self-defeating disaster.” 463’s latest survey found this description to be shockingly accurate.
It’s true, Americans don't think very highly of the people in the so-called 1%, but they wouldn't mind joining them. In fact, Americans are very wrong about just who makes up the 1%.
"The question the survey provokes is do Americans understand who is in the so-called 1%? Is it Donald Trump landing on a rooftop in a helicopter or a well-off soccer mom in a minivan? The answer is it could be both," said Tom Galvin, 463's CEO. "At a time of economic uncertainty and upheaval, it's clear many Americans have a love/hate relationship with wealth and those who have it."
The majority (52 percent) of Americans believes that one needs to earn at least $1 million a year to make it into the most elite income club. Contrast that with IRS data indicating that a salary of about $350,000 is enough to put someone in the 1%.
The majority of Americans believe the 1% also fly on private jets (60 percent), have two or more homes (73 percent) have luxury seats for entertainment and sporting events (63 percent), take overseas vacations annually (67 percent) and fly first class (63 percent).
But whether they don't work very hard, or pay enough in taxes, or lead a life of luxury, there is one more thing Americans think about the 1%: They want to be one of them.
