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Middle Class Protests Deserve More Credence

Submitted by kmorrison on Sat, 04/18/2009 - 13:47
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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

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Begin at the very beginning

Submitted by NextRightNando on Sat, 04/18/2009 - 14:43.

You open with the statement

so many in the middle class don't like Washington's big spending.

The real problem isn't, as you suggest, that your viewpoint isn't being given enough credence. The problem is that your "so many" isn't nearly as large as you imagine it to be.

Gallup Poll, April 13:

Over two-thirds of Americans -- 71% -- have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in President Obama to do or recommend the right thing for the economy

The components of that 71% number break down as follows:

  • Dems - 97%
  • Indies - 68%
  • Reps - 38%

You just do not have the numbers on your side.

 

Here's Rasmussen Report, NextrightNando.

Submitted by Xasteius on Sat, 04/18/2009 - 14:57.

Obama Approval Index

+7

A, C, T

Strongly Approve

36%

A, C, T

Strongly Disapprove

29%

A, C, T

Taxes Will Go Down

14%

A, C, T

Gov't Spending Will Go Up

68%

A, C, T

Obama on Economy - Ex/Good

46%

A, C, T
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

Tax Increases Hurt Economy?

51%

23%

Tax Cuts Help Economy?

63%

13%

Pay More than Fair Share of Taxes?

52%

30%

 

<ahref="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/scoreboards/by_the_numbers2/by_the_numbers">Rasmussen report</a>

Right track/wrong track

Submitted by NextRightNando on Sat, 04/18/2009 - 18:34.

Pew Poll, April 8:

Fully 70% say they have a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in Barack Obama to do the right thing when it comes to fixing the economy. A majority (55%) also say they have at least a fair amount of confidence in congressional Democratic leaders. By comparison, just 38% voice the same degree of confidence in Republicans leaders in Congress.

Also have a look at the average of all polls  regarding the question are we on the right track or wrong track? Understand what that trend line signfies?

failure is citing Rasmussen.

Submitted by RisingTide on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 10:38.

it consistently shows a marked republican lean. oh, and that's on "likely voters"

utterly incomparable to most other polling.

take tea parties seriously?

Submitted by skayne on Sun, 04/19/2009 - 14:02.

These tea parties will gain respect the moment the people protesting have a basic grasp of the facts.Our economy is contracting, deflation is the problem facing us, not inflation.

The deficit only became a concern when a democrat got elected, ignoring the three conservative presidents whose policies exploded the deficit. The debt, after not being a problem for decades, exploded under Ronald Regan, and the proceeding conservatives in office added dramatically to the debt

It was only Bill Clinton who balanced the budget in the last 30 years, in part by raising the top mariginal tax rate. Any whining about the deficit is disingenous, what with every mild Obama proposal to raise revenue rebuffed by conservatives in both caucuses, including our Blue Dogs and New Democrats.

Mildly lowering the deduction on donations, cutting the generous subsidies to farmers, and ending the subsidies to banks who give college loans with a fed gaurantee and have the government give the money directly to students were all rebuffed.

Meanwhile, Republicans, along with 10 conservadems, voted to raise the exemption on the estate tax, which would cost $250 billion dollars.  Another debt inducing tax cut.  The debt cannot be cut if the government doesn't raise revenue, which means taxes.