middle class

RCP article CNN Versus the Tea Parties does an excellent job in explaining why so many in the middle class don't like Washington's big spending. The argument about taxes often devolves into condescending remarks from the left stating that these people obviously don't realize that their taxes will not go up. This is then followed by rather useless statements from the right trying to drum up sympathy for the wealthy who pay a much higher percentage of taxes. Both sides miss two key point; trust and math. What many of the Tea Party participants were saying to the government was,

'I don't trust you with my money.'

'Who will pay for this trillion dollar deficit?'

'How does this colosal debt really help the country and the economy in the long run?'

'How will you avoid massive inflation if you keep spending at this rate?'

Fairness arguments fall flat, because life's not fair, and trying to convince people that the wealthy have a raw deal will not engender much sympathy. 'What works,' would be a much better tact for fiscal conservatives, as the Tea Parties showed many people do not feel that reckless government spending 'works.'

What Ms. Roesgen and others like her do not understand is that some people are interested in more than their own narrow self-interest. Perhaps the protestor she interviewed, who was holding his 2-year-old son, is eligible for a tax rebate. And perhaps his state will get a juicy piece of the stimulus money. It is possible, just possible, that such a bribe does not influence him. Perhaps it doesn't buy his support because he is skeptical that his taxes can remain low when the federal government is embarked on a record-shattering spending spree. He may be offended by the bailout culture, and worried that the obligations of taxpayers cannot remain low when it seems that every irresponsible borrower, failed car company, and free spending state is being rescued by the federal government. Additionally, he may be dubious that the government will spend the money wisely. It has been rumored that government spending has produced waste, fraud, inefficiency, and corruption. But he also may simply believe that engorging the government and enfeebling the private sector -- no matter who is writing the checks -- is not good for the economic or spiritual health of the country.

Middle Class Protest Deserves More Credence

While I'm still skeptical of any large strategic effect the #dontGo movement had, the energy issue overall, as well as McCain's selection of Gov. Sarah Palin, has spurred new policy messages on a wide range of economic, middle class issues. Two days ago, Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA 7th District) spoke to the Conservative Bloggers' Briefing at the Heritage Foundation, introducing a "Middle Class Bill of Rights." The components are:

• Energy: As everybody knows by now, the rational approach is to have an "all of the above" strategy which includes production of non-renewable and renewable resources (including nuclear), as well as initiatives that increase conservation and efficiency. Cantor mentioned that the selection of Palin gives the GOP in the expertise edge of energy solutions.
• Health Care: Cantor explained that individuals worry more today than a generation ago about losing their jobs because of the subsequent loss in health care coverage. Consumer-based health care programs and the expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are the way to proceed.
• Making Paychecks Go Further: Another way of saying "tax cuts." But Cantor also mentioned that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is proposing making overtime wages tax-exempt to fuel more productivity at the micro-level.
• Job Creation: Cantor correctly points out that the best stimulus for any economy is job creation. This means Congress has to start being concerned about competitiveness and corporate taxes. Back in January, Cantor introduced the "Middle Class Job Protection Act," which would, among other things, cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. While it is speculative to link corporate taxes to job loss/creation, the ultimate burden of corporate taxes does fall on individuals through lower wages, higher costs at goods and services, etc. (The Tax Foundation has started a campaign called CompeteUSA, showing that corporate taxes in America are increasingly out-of-line with the rest of the world.)

While I like the combination of issues and the focus on the middle class, I'm not so sure I like the branding. Middle Class Bill of Rights? I've never been a fan of economic "rights." But maybe it is this type of messaging that the Right needs for this and future elections cycles in order to successfully court the middle class. And now that McCain and Republicans are making headway on economic and energy issues, as Sean points out, Cantor is definitely headed in the right direction.

The flip side of Palinmania is Palinhysteria. Yesterday the CT Democrats put on a fine display of this at their campaign kickoff rally in Hamden, CT

http://www.newhavenregister.com/articles/2008/09/07/news/a1obama.txt

HAMDEN – U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd took aim at Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his newly appointed running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at a Barack Obama rally Saturday, telling the crowd of almost 2,500 people that Democrats are going to send Palin “back to Alaska.”.....

Dodd also accused the Republicans of resorting to attacks at their convention and he countered claims that Palin is going to bring change to Washington.

“If all you do is attack, believe me, we are used to that in Washington,” he said, adding: “There is nothing fresh about Sarah Palin.”

This is coming from someone who has been in Washington only two years less than Joe Biden. Chris Dodd's "sell-by" date was at least a decade in the past.

The Democrats have also recently discovered that not all of the electorate drive Volvos  and shop at Whole Foods, as Rep. Rosa DeLauro said

When we elect Barack Obama, we will have the opportunity to put the middle-class first,” she said. (Attorney General Richard) Blumenthal echoed the economy theme in his speech and called out Republicans on their new message of change. He said: “There was a lot of talk about change at the Republican convention, but there wasn’t a lot of talk about the middle class. What we have seen over the last eight years is a contempt for the middle class.”
 

Reality check, my friends. Here's our allies of working folks :

a) Chris Dodd is the son of a U.S. Senator and has used funny mortgage money so he can own three homes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Dodd#Personal_life  While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sank under the waves since Dodd's Bailout bill failed, Dodd himself spent the month in August vacationing in Ireland.  http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-rennie0817.artaug17,0,6806840.column

b)Rosa DeLauro's  husband Stan Greenberg is a millionaire consultant for corporations that do business with Congress such as British Petroleum, British Airways, Monsanto and General Motors. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Greenberg

c) Richard Blumenthal is married to the heiress to a  prominent NYC real estate lawyer and developer. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E0D6153BF93BA15755C0A964948260 He lives in a multimillion dollar mansion in the Greenwich backcountry (trust me; I'm not going to go lefty invasion of privacy and show you the house and Zillow appraisal;  his family has young children and deserves their peace) 

So take all this bleating about the "middle class" from the Porsche Populists with about a shaker load of salt.

Bottom line; They see that Sarah Palin has their former supporters right in her sights and they are desperate to stop this from happening. Even in deep blue CT