[lbo-talk] LBO 2008 Dem POTUS poll

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

Michael Pollak:

And it's exactly that combination that defines lbo-talk's considered 
judgment: the vast plurality of us think that all the choices suck beyond 
belief.  And given that, and allowed to express that, our choice is Gore. 
And our message would clearly be: we're think you're the best of a bad 
field.  But our real desire is that you'd go far beyond the given array of 
choices.  In case you're interested, FWIW.


[WS:] I thought you have a more sophisticated understanding of the political
process than a variation on the theme "good tsar bad boyars."  The US is a
democracy, not a hereditary monarchy where the views of the monarch become
the policy.  That policies that you or I would like to see are not even
considered result from a low public support for such policies rather than
from shortage of politicians with a favorable mindset or ideology.  The
"Goldman on global warming" piece posted by Doug is a case in point - there
might be many politicians who favor a tougher stance on emissions and
climate changes, but the general public is not favorably disposed toward
such measures.

It is the public opinion - the split the difference stance of the median
voter plus influence of the myriad of interest groups - rather than the will
of politicians that determines the political agenda and keeps certain issues
(not only those favored by the left) off that agenda.  Including these
issues in one's political platform is tantamount to political suicide - as
demonstrated by the minuscule public support of left-leaning candidates,
such as Kucinich.  I am pretty sure that this would not change even if Karl
Marx were resurrected and elected president - we would still have business a
usual, and the disgruntled lefties would talk about sell out and finding
another political icon.

Wojtek