Progressive Ponderings: A Public Opinion Platform
by Joe Mayer
4/20/11
Public opinion is fickle. It can be manipulated for political gain or for dollars to mold public opinion for its own gain. Some organizations who measure public opinion are masters of manipulation, wording the questions or targeting specific groups to achieve desired results.
Despite all this, there are poll takers who honestly try to measure the beliefs of the American public regarding political, social and economic issues that affect their lives. Over the years these firms that attempt to measure opinion frequently ask similar questions to determine whether trends are developing.
Listed below are statements the American public has agreed with, often overwhelmingly, for at least two decades. Still, no political leaders of either party have acted on them. As you read them, find your own level of agreement or disagreement.
Are today’s political scapegoats – unionized teachers and workers, Medicare and Medicaid recipients, Social Security pensioners, students at all levels, the sick and disabled, the poor- always the poor - organized to keep these ideas at bay?
Notice how many of these ideas deal with a true citizen’s democracy. Who advocates for citizens in general? Does the stench of wealth and corporate contamination fit better with democracy or plutocracy?
Some of the above statements have become part of some state Democratic Party Platforms, but elected officials seem deaf to the collective voice of American citizens. A platform that advocates for justice and the common good has winning power. A time-tested national platform does exist in the minds of Americans, but only a bottom-up national party would be its advocate. Does such a party exist in the United States?
4/20/11
Public opinion is fickle. It can be manipulated for political gain or for dollars to mold public opinion for its own gain. Some organizations who measure public opinion are masters of manipulation, wording the questions or targeting specific groups to achieve desired results.
Despite all this, there are poll takers who honestly try to measure the beliefs of the American public regarding political, social and economic issues that affect their lives. Over the years these firms that attempt to measure opinion frequently ask similar questions to determine whether trends are developing.
Listed below are statements the American public has agreed with, often overwhelmingly, for at least two decades. Still, no political leaders of either party have acted on them. As you read them, find your own level of agreement or disagreement.
- Extreme wealth disparities are a detriment to democracy
- Money has too much influence on elections
- Special interest lobbyists have too much power
- Government secrecy threatens democracy
- Large corporations have too much influence and political power
- Tax laws need to become more progressive
- Income from capital – dividends, capital gains, interest, inheritance – should be taxed at rates at least as high as earned income
- Our military budget consumes too much of our Federal tax dollars
- The U.S. should not be the world’s policeman
- Human and civil rights should be protected by our government, not abused by it
Are today’s political scapegoats – unionized teachers and workers, Medicare and Medicaid recipients, Social Security pensioners, students at all levels, the sick and disabled, the poor- always the poor - organized to keep these ideas at bay?
Notice how many of these ideas deal with a true citizen’s democracy. Who advocates for citizens in general? Does the stench of wealth and corporate contamination fit better with democracy or plutocracy?
Some of the above statements have become part of some state Democratic Party Platforms, but elected officials seem deaf to the collective voice of American citizens. A platform that advocates for justice and the common good has winning power. A time-tested national platform does exist in the minds of Americans, but only a bottom-up national party would be its advocate. Does such a party exist in the United States?
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1 Comments:
Joe - I share your pain. The next time you vote, vote for the candidate who supports the individual freedom, not the candidate who thinks the state is the answer.
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