On Feb 27, 2008, at 11:28 AM, Ira Glazer wrote:
> so, doug, you don't agree with chomsky's view that on many issues --
> i.e. universal health care; use of government funds for social needs,
> rather than for the military; use of diplomacy rather than military
> force in international affairs -- the majority of the american
> public is
> progressive (or 'liberal', if you prefer that term) ?
>
> in fact, chomsky has repeatedly stated he considers that on many
> issues
> (with some notable exceptions, such as the death penalty) his views
> are
> in the mainstream
Opinion on these things is very mixed and contradictory. Much depends on how the questions are worded and the context they're asked in, and always infected with the American masses' instincts towards splitting the difference. Take your examples. "Universal" health care. What does that mean? Government run? You can find polls that support that, you can find polls that oppose it. It's failed in three state referenda - California, Massachusetts, and Oregon, not exactly hotbeds of reaction. Here's Gallup's summary
<http://www.gallup.com/poll/4708/Healthcare-System.aspx>:
> By substantial majorities, Americans favor various solutions such
> as these: offering tax deductions to businesses that provide
> healthcare coverage, expanding low-income federal assistance,
> expanding Medicare down to 55, tax deductions for the uninsured,
> requiring businesses to offer health insurance. Importantly, the
> one option a majority of Americans do not favor is a national
> healthcare plan.... Importantly, Americans agree that it is the
> responsibility of the federal government to make sure that all
> Americans have healthcare coverage. But less than half support the
> idea of a government-run healthcare system -- although support for
> this idea has increased. Americans want government help with
> healthcare, but don't want government running it.
On the military budget:
<http://www.gallup.com/poll/1666/Military-National-Defense.aspx.
Spending too much 43% About right 35 Too little 20
"Too much" has come up from 17% in 2002, when "about right" was 48%, and "too little" was 33%.
Diplomacy rather than the military? Support for the Iraq war was pretty strong until it started going sour.
Or look at the American National Election Studies.
Health insurance:
<http://www.electionstudies.org/nesguide/toptable/tab4a_3.htm>
Share leaning towards government plan exceeded those leaning toward private by 6 points in 1970. That rose to 20 points in 1992 - but then Hillary fucked it, and it went to -2 (i.e., in favor of a private plan) in 1994. It was +11 in 2004, but those in the middle were 17%, and another 9% were DKs.
Government guaranteed jobs:
<http://www.electionstudies.org/nesguide/toptable/tab4a_4a.htm>
57-27 in favor in 1956; 43-21 opposed in 2002.
Oh, and on the difference between the two parties question,
<http://www.electionstudies.org/nesguide/toptable/tab2b_4.htm>
it was 50-41 (yes a difference vs. no, no difference) in 1952, vs. 76-20 in favor of yes a difference in 2004.
Yes, the ANES is limited to voters, or people who said they voted, so they're probably more conservative and less alienated than the nonvoters. But if all it took were a "good populist message" to get people out to vote, why did Kucinich, Edwards, and Nader all crash and burn?
Doug