It never matters until it matters

[SoCalDem]

After being in the dark for years when it came to politics, I have decided that "most" people care about voting and politics for only a handful of reasons..

Some people ARE interested in news events and probably grew up in homes where there might have been union members or even local politicians, so they would naturally be interested..

There is another group who are strictly "bandwagon" followers. These eare the ones who are likely to comment on "how cute" a politician is.

There are also the ones who are ideological zealots about a few core issues and then are brainwashed by their clergy or family to "believe" with all their heart and soul, that their candidate is the ONLY one who can SAVE everyone from whatever the "sin du jour" happens to be..

There are the "every four years" people who feel compelled to vote in presidential elections, even if they know nothing about any of the issues, and they often pride themselves in NOT knowing what's going on.. They believe that if they watch the commercials and read a few papers in the run-up to the election, that they can make an accurate appraisal of the candidates..


The common denominator in all these groups is the fact that economics will trump all of their issues..

All of these types of people have more in common than they think. They all have the same basic needs and most of those needs are only satisfied by MONEY..

Some stubborn people do vote against their own interests because of their deep-seated biases, but for the most part, if these folks have their own little world rocked by an uninsured illness, a loss of a job, an inability to GET a job,being turned down for school aid, a foreclosure, loss of or unaffordable medical insurance, they are more amenable to altering their political beliefs..

I would guess that almost everyone in the USA knows someone who has lost a job, lost their insurance, lost a car or home.. It is starting to hit home and if our candidates just focus on issue and remind people that the foundation for their retirement and old age is being laid down NOW, they might start to pay attention.. The medicare vote gives our people an ideal platform.. They need to "model" a couple and show people just how stupid this plan is ..

Living check to check is the way most middle class people live these days.. The republicans have convinced these people that if they work hard , they will someday be rich, and they have bought into this silly idea..

They seem to favor tax cuts so that, when they are rich, they will not have to pay taxes, but in the here and now, their tax savings are miniscule, and the whack-a-mole theory is working overtime.. They may be "saving" a few bucks every week on their paycheck stub, but the services that they need are costing states and municipalities money that they no longer get from the federal government, so their local/state taxes will go up.. Their net savings is less than zero..

All the "issues" that occupy the time on cable shows are red herrings.. Most people do not spend all their waking hours agonizing about gay marriage, abortion, gun control, or any of the other "wedge" issues.. These are all important issues, BUT unfortunately, most of them are insoluable issues.. No amount of debate will change any minds about these issues..

The things that people DO agonize over daily, are economic issues.

Stuff like...

ever-increasing

grocery costs
medicine costs
rent
car repair costs
medical insurance premiums
real estate prices
gasoline costs
school tuition

and so many more things..

These are the issues that hit everyone who earns below the 6 figure incomes..

There are way more of us than those who DO make the big bucks..

So all the time spent arguing about the "social issues" is time that is NOT spent on the issues that might win an election..

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I do agree but somehow the wedge issues get all the play

Perhaps it is because Repubs so cynically make sure they are hot off the grill on time for elections.

It's late...I just wanted you to know someone saw this.

G'nite.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. kick

[lastliberalintexas]

3. Very good post SCD

I agree wholeheartedly, that economics ends up trumping all, and I still think so today. But you will hear from the naysayers that "9/11 changed everything" and that we must start palying by the repubs' rules/script out of that fear, rather than promoting the Dem agenda which would be better for America. You will also hear that the gay marriage/civil union issue or late term abortion issue will help the repubs, but those people overlook the fact that the people who are swayed by those issues were voting for Shrub anyway.

We have got to take back the dialogue in this country! We have let the repubs run the airwaves and shout down liberals/Dems for too long now. We MUST refocus the debate so that the "kitchen table" issues of FDR and Truman are our main focus again.

[Dr Satan]

4. great post

Which candidate is best for the working class?

[onecitizen]

5. You are absolutely right.........

SoCalDem. On everything you said. I was noticing this past week that the gay marriage issue was at the front of the talk shows. And it dawned on me that the only reason it was is because it's a hot topic subject that brings out the ones that are really either for it or really against it where in most cases, people don't ever really think or ponder the issue at all. But it's good for TV.

Most folks are so caught up in their everyday lives that they just don't care about politics. If I were still working everyday and raising a family, I doubt I would care much either, other than at Presidential election time. The Republicans bank on this fact. They know what issues will bring out their base. They use it masterfully. I still say most of this country is Democratic, they just don't know it.