Big Surprise: Political Class and Americans Moving In Opposit Directions

[Kathianne]

I'm still hopeful there will be change, once the buffoons in Washington are convinced that people are still paying attention:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/blogs/beltway-confidential/2010/12/political-class-middle-america-headed-opposite-directions-economy


By Mark Tapscott
Created Dec 10 2010 - 4:20pm
Political class, Middle America headed in opposite directions on economy

A new Rasmussen Reports survey turns up new evidence of a yawning divide between the nation's Political Class and the rest of the country on what to do about the federal government's fiscal crisis.

The survey found "that 57% of likely U.S. voters think reducing federal government spending is more important than reducing the deficit. Thirty-four percent (34%) put reducing the deficit first," according to Rasmussen.

But when the same issue was put before members of the two groups, the results were profoundly different:

"It’s telling to note that while 65% of mainstream voters believe cutting spending is more important, 72% of the Political Class say the primary emphasis should be on deficit reduction," Rasmussen said.

The same survey found a distinct lack of optimism among mainstream voters concerning the prospects that 2011 will see much progress being made by President Obama, the Democratic Senate and Republican House.

"Most voters are still not convinced, even with a new Republican majority in the House, that Congress will actually cut government spending substantially over the next year. GOP voters are among the most doubtful," the pollster said.

"Sixty-nine percent (69%) of voters, in fact, are pessimistic about what Congress will accomplish in terms of government spending."

For more from Rasmussen, go here.

[fj1200]

Who is this "political class" that they were out polling?

[Kathianne]

Who is this "political class" that they were out polling?

As defined by Rasmussen for polling purposes:


Now Rasmussen has introduced an innovative new index that tracks the variances between what he calls the Mainstream public and the Political Elite. In a recent example of this breakthrough, he reports that the Tax Day Tea Parties were viewed favorably by 51% of “Americans” but only 13% of the Political Class shared that view.

So you may be wondering how Rasmussen determines who is an Elitist and who is a Mainstream American. He does this by conducting a comprehensive psychological regimen of inquiry to create a detailed profile of a respondent’s subjective tendencies. I am including here the questions that make up his comprehensive study – all three of them:

* Generally speaking, when it comes to important national issues, whose judgment do you trust more – the American people or America’s political leaders?
* Some people believe that the federal government has become a special interest group that looks out primarily for its own interests. Has the federal government become a special interest group?
* Do government and big business often work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors?

Answer two of more of those questions affirmatively and you are a Mainstream American. Answer two or more in the negative and you are a Political Elitist.