Jim Robinson
Posted on 02/17/2012 11:52:11 AM PST by SeekAndFind
One of the central, driving questions in our politics is this: Why are people who are themselves reliant on government programs so prone to electing anti-government politicans who want to put them on the chopping block?
Paul Krugman talks to experts about this conundrum and comes away with some important conclusions that are directly relevant to this year’s presidential race:
Cornell University’s Suzanne Mettler points out that many beneficiaries of government programs seem confused about their own place in the system. She tells us that 44 percent of Social Security recipients, 43 percent of those receiving unemployment benefits, and 40 percent of those on Medicare say that they “have not used a government program.”
Presumably, then, voters imagine that pledges to slash government spending mean cutting programs for the idle poor, not things they themselves count on...
The message I take from all this is that pundits who describe America as a fundamentally conservative country are wrong. Yes, voters sent some severe conservatives to Washington. But those voters would be both shocked and angry if such politicians actually imposed their small-government agenda.
Campaign 2012 will turn on this fundamental point. And as it happens, you can actually look at polling data to gauge whether this is true. A recent National Journal poll found that when respondents are asked about specific programs, huge majorities don’t think Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid should be cut at all to pay down the deficit.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
That's what really has their panties in a twist.
I fear he’s right - look at the approval ratings of John Kasich in Ohio and Scott Walker in Wisconsin. They’re starting to improve, but still nowhere near where they should be.
There is no “safety net” in America. What we have is a Safety Web that traps what it touches. Few are able to free themselves from this web. And you don’t have to fall to become trapped in it - politicians are continually raising the web to capture more and more people.
“Why are people who are themselves reliant on government programs so prone to electing anti-government politicans who want to put them on the chopping block?”
The smaller government candidates I vote for often don’t get elected and many times turn out not to really be for small government, just not as much as the democrats. I’m on social security and medicare, I didn’t have a choice, just because I’m on it doesn’t mean that I don’t know they need to be fixed and reformed and if it cost me why not, how many other ways have they cost all of us over the years and they still are. Just look at what these idiots have done to us and the country. I was one that when they passed medicare said it was not a good idea, I realized then that social security was broke, but there was no opt in or out on either of these programs. Look at what they are costing in fuel, gas is about to go higher than it ever has been. We need a true Conservative President and true Conservative majorities in the House and the Senate, we need to dump spendthrift RINOS and every democrat we can get rid of.
RE: I fear he’s right - look at the approval ratings of John Kasich in Ohio and Scott Walker in Wisconsin. They’re starting to improve, but still nowhere near where they should be.
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I’m going to withhold my judgment and impression on the wisdom or foolishness of the residents of Wisconsin until I see Scott Walker survive the recall elections.
It’s easy to understand why so many American’s will use SS, UE and other such ‘services’ and claim that they haven’t benefitted from government largess... it’s because people like Paul Krugman initially sold those programs as being similar to “bank accounts” where the user only gets his own money back (with interest, of course). It was a lie then, just as real as the current self-deception.
It goes on until it can’t any longer. I only hope those that really really depend on government cheese to exist get bit in the ass. I plan on doing my best to help the helpless and laugh my ass off at the clueless.
No. I don't care.
No. Really...
I have talked to so many who are cut all the handouts and programs but in the same breath, don’t touch mine.
Greg Sargent is the guy Tucker Carlson was talking about the other day during an FNC story on Media Matters. He’s the one Media Matters would feed a story to when no one else would take it.
I have never been a recipient of any federal government largesse. However, I did intend to apply or “try to get” medicare/medicaid as new civilian that had just left the Army and while I was in college. I only wanted catastrophic coverage.
When I entered the government largesse office, I was clearly in the minority. In fact I was flat out told, “yous a white boy, go gits a job.”
Since then I know that these programs are NOT safety nets.
In addition, if the government would allow me to opt out of SSIP future payments, I would be more than willing to opt out of all future payments. I’d even let them just keep my last 25 years of payments! Just release me!
OK, I have to end my work day. I’ll catch up on the thread later from my smart phone!
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