The 95% Solution

Are the far left or the far right representative of the beliefs of the majority of people in this country?  Depending where you are, especially those of us stuck somewhere in the middle, the answer is obvious to everyone. 

The polls indicate opinions that, despite the absolute positions often preached by both sides, the majority of people do not agree with them.

On abortion, people tend not to agree with the extremes of either side.   A good compilation of opinion polls can be found on the PollingReport.Com site (Note:  good site to find such information on a number of other topics/issues).

On increasing taxes for those with higher incomes, strong support there.  I also tend to agree, but with the caveat that there also needs to be significant cuts elsewhere.  While job creation is the highest priority, right there with it is the deficit.  

You can only print money for so long.  If interest rates had not been as low as they were and are, this country would be bankrupt right now.  The money the U.S. owes is over $16,000,000,000.00 (trillion).  Imagine the size of the sinking ship we would be in if all that money was borrowed at higher rates?

We can go back 50 years and work our way forward through each and every President to explain the policies and ideals of both Democrats and Republicans in the White House, not to mention each party when in control of both or either of the branches of Congress, and point fingers at who did what wrong, and we would all be right.

If there isn't the gumption for cutting spending, at this point I would settle a modified spending freeze.  Attacking the deficit with increased taxes would free up a tremendous amount of money each year.  Tie all spending increases into money saved from debt service and payoff.

A site with some older but still relevant polling data based on numerous less comprehensive polls, see the results from a CNN/ORC International Poll.  

So for everyone touting the support of the middle class for those higher taxes, please take the time to ask them about spending.  For everyone opposed to the higher tax, let's get just a bit better grip on reality, please. 

And speaking of polls, Obama has gotten a bit of a bump from the DNC.  The average of the "major" polls has him with a +1.8% lead.  That was through yesterday.  Essentially right back to where things were before the GOP convention started.

The ironic twist in this election, viewing the polls, projections, and taking into account guess work, this election has a very strong possibility that Obama wins the electoral college, but looses the popular vote.  Even with the present popular "vote" lead, it is a real possibility.

Personally, from simply a prognosticator's point of view, I don't see it happening.  But what a hoot that would be.

Interesting piece in yesterday's S-T.  No, not the Brown vs. Warren = Neutral SouthCoast bit.  I am referencing the Bob Unger piece on letters to the paper and view points published.  Really?  Are people going off because you don't use their headlines, because your letter/piece gets edited?  No right to do that?  I think the policy of the paper is pretty clear for submissions as is published.  It reserves the right.  It need say no more, just as no one need submit.  

But as to the Brown/Warren thingy, well ... worth reading also.  Interesting description of the area in the article:

"SouthCoast has always just been there," Kryzanek said. "It's not high tech. It's not high finance. There's just not enough there to grab a candidate's attention. It's just a fishing port and an old mill city. There has to be something more than fishing and mills to get attention. It's not perceived as a place that needs to have attention paid to it. It's not considered a place where you would want to consolidate your message."

One has to wonder just where one would get such a perception from.

A perception that is apparently shared by both candidates for Senator, at least according to the article.  One unfortunately shared by too many in this state I think.

A perception that I hope bothers you as much as it bothers me.

As I may too often note, perception is 95% of the battle.  It is a repetitive battle this area seems to fight and lose.

The solution is easy:  Change the perception.  Now all we have to do is figure out how.