Reply #55: I still don't get it [View All]

[Onlooker]

Here's how I look at the political landscape.

10% of the people are politically right wing
20% are politically Republican for various reasons
40% are in the middle
20% are politically Democratic for various reasons
10% are politically progressive

Of the 40% in the middle, many of them vote but pay little attention to political issues. They are largely persuaded by peer pressure and political ads, as well as things that might affect them personally, e.g., gas prices and neighborhood crime.

Whoever becomes President is going to represent roughly half the people and will have relatively little opportunity to persuade many of the voters to vote one way or another. Like Reagan and Bush did, Kerry will adapt a moderate viewpoint until he's in the White House, then we'll find out what kind of person he is.

If Kerry loses, there are groups in the U.S. (gays, Arabs, women, atheists, people of color, seniors, poor people, people with disabilities, French people) who will suffer to various degrees if not through Bush's policies, than through an ever-more-right-wing Supreme Court. For example, a women's right to choose will end if Bush is reelected. (I can't see Justice Stevens lasting another four years.)