On 2010-10-09, at 9:34 AM, Somebody Somebody wrote:
> Second, I don't think it's at all clear that the Obama and the Democrats are to the left and ahead of the "average US citizen" outside the party and the liberal intelligensia. There's plenty of polling evidence to suggest that, while most Americans reflexively define themselves as conservative, they favour policies typically identified with the left which the Obama administration has been unwilling to introduce because of its ties to Wall Street and because of the nature of the US political system which disproportionately favours smaller rural states. These include support for tighter regulation of the financial and energy industries, public healthcare, and withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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> Somebody: I don't think it's just a case of confused identification, though. Consistent majorities of Americans come out in favor of the view that the government plays too large of a role in our economy. And since the recession, the percent feeling that there's too much government regulation has actually gone up to 57%. And when given the choice between regulating business more, less, or keeping things the same, only 24%(!) wanted more regulation.
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> <http://www.gallup.com/poll/125468/americans-leery-govt-regulation-business.aspx>
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> Anyway, why do so many Americans identify as conservative, anyway? The percent that identifies itself as liberal is a little less than that calling for more regulation of business: around 20%. That's liberal America - about one fifth of the population. Conservatives outnumber liberals two to one.
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> The proof to me of the conservative instincts of Americans is how few people are calling for the government to supply new jobs and for public works programs. We're in the deepest recession in a lifetime, and Americans are actually turning away from notions that the government should lend a helping hand.
Americans are opposed to big government in the abstract, and it's not unusual for those in crisis to appeal to what they regard as the source of better times, whether throne and alter in the old European autocracies, or, in the US, free enterprise. But the practical response of the masses to the issues of the day can unknowingly be contrary to the interests of those they most admire, be it land reform or corporate reform.
It's understandable why support for government intervention has plunged since Obama's election, since the administration's interventions haven't had any deep or widespread effect on jobs, income, housing, or health care - these which matter most to Americans. All they can see is the prospect of higher taxes ahead because of the mounting trillions being "wasted", and it's made them easy prey for right-wing Republicans.
The administration can't be held responsible for the latest crisis of capitalism and the lacklustre jobless recovery. But it can be held responsible for allowing the Republicans to redirect the 2008 movement for change (now all too easily forgotten or ignored by those insisting Americans are intractably amd hopelessly conservative) into a politically reactionary channel. How ironic Rahm Emanuel's comment - "you never want a serious crisis to go to waste" - when it has been Emanuel and the rest of the Democratic leadership which has precisely have allowed the present crisis to go to waste with respect to the needs of American capitalism and their own partisan political interests.
In the face of all this and if the polls are to believed, it's remarkable that more Americans continue to support the Democrats than the Republicans, though not to the extent they are likely to show up in greater numbers to vote in the midterms next month, and that Obama remains the country's most well regarded politician, well ahead of Sarah Palin or any other Republican.
Anyway, here are some reports on which I based my observations:
"Most back stricter financial reform, advantage Obama" (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/behind-the-numbers/2010/04/most_back_stricter_financial_r.html)
"Most Want Health Reform But Fear Its Side Effects" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/23/AR2009062303510.html?sid=ST2009062304056)
"Poll Finds Deep Concern About Energy and Economy" (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/us/22poll.html)
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