Cook Political Report Poll

[angrychair]

Was featured on a segment on Morning Joe this morning and to say the report is concerning is putting it mildly. I'm not going to wring my hands over the numbers or second guess the methodology but it's more about what it says about politics in this country and what is says about the education system in this country.

It has allowed people to say their personal finances are good but the economy is bad.
That we are in recession and we are not. Majority believe that the president has direct control over inflation and that Biden just isn't doing anything about it.That unemployment is at record highs. It's not.
It also states that, even among women, they care more about the economy and immigration than they do about abortion and women's rights. Even among Democrats. Most stating that anything trump could do wont be that big a deal, even if they loose some rights because the economy.
Also that the majority don't believe Biden would survive a 2nd term, despite only being 3 years older than Trump and Biden being far more physically active.

Now, the numbers don't matter but the sentiment does. This report highlights what has become increasingly obvious: the general public is incredibly ignorant of the economy and the very real danger of a trump presidency.

This is incredibly bad. Not about the numbers but the general mood it projects. The ignorance it brings to the light. The fact that at least some of this baked in and I don't know how you change the mind of a person that doesn't trust the media, the government or Trump's own words when he says he will be a dictator and saying that people are ok with that. Our nation may truly be lost.

Reference: https://www.cookpolitical.com/survey-research/2024-swing-state-project/unique-election-driven-traditional-issue

[Walleye]

1. I'm trying not to read the polls. There's nothing I can do about it anyway

Not sticking my head in the sand, I am aware of what could happen. There’s just not a damn thing I can do about it

[hlthe2b]

2. The ignorance in this country is overwhelming to me. I know multi-factors are at play, especially RW media

that feeds them nothing but propaganda and the damned reliance on social media for everything among so many younger people, but damn...


I walk with my dog each morning with a male friend (attorney) and his dog around dawn at the park. While I try to talk about a variety of things, knowing he is similarly a liberal/progressive Dem, I do talk about political news frequently. While he usually knows ahead of time what I'm referring to, he often indicates he's on a "news break" because it just gets overwhelming (I feel that too). Still, I am probably more news-addicted for several reasons, but especially because of all my years working overseas in non-English-speaking countries-- so reliance on many sources of news, including foreign sources, was just "survival." But I likewise cringe at the ignorance for many Americans on what is going on in the world. I had years of utter amazement and enjoyment talking about any number of global or American issues--even with street kids-- in the many countries I spent time. I guess others would have to experience what I have to appreciate what I am saying, but damn... most of the world is far more informed, educated (even if on a "street level" ), and INTERESTED in what is going on globally--and especially in the US. My embarrassment and sadness at the devastating comparison never wanes.

[honest.abe]

3. Shocking.

[Wednesdays]

4. "...among women, they care more about the economy and immigration than they do about abortion and women's rights..."

Even if that were true, all it takes is a 5% increase in the vote due to women caring about abortion and women's rights to turn what otherwise would be a Republican victory into a Democratic landslide!

On edit: my response to this entire thread is in my sig line.

[angrychair]

6. To be clear

I don't support the conclusion but do believe some people feel that always.
The midterm and special elections since 2022 on have shown it is a far more significant issue than this poll would imply.

[andym]

5. People conflate inflation and high interest rates with recession

Have done so for quite some time, dating back to the 70s though there is no correlation at the moment: GDP has been steadily growing, unemployment is at lows.

Inflation is now under control at 3.4%, and the big box stores Target and Walmart are actually deflating prices on thousands of items-- just announced. Joe Biden is taking action to reduce gasoline prices by releasing fuel from the national repository. Lower fuel costs are direct indicators to many consumers and get baked into the costs of items being shipped as well.

The biggest help in this regard will be the upcoming Fed cutting of the interest rates, which should lower mortgage and cc interest rates. That should help with the polls as the election nears.

[Marcus IM]

7. Not shocking.

Americans always support - or just don't care about - their government overthrowing other nation's governments in the name of "American interests" (which is simply Newspeak for corporate/military oligarchy). It's part of the political landscape here.

Look at the US's history on the Latin Americas and the same American nonchalance.

Almost every time I mention the struggles that the US's extraterritorial sanctions cause regular Cubans, including my family there, I get pushback and torrents of vitriolic and inhumane justifications mainly based in cold war red baiting US government propaganda. Hardly one care about the impact of their nonchalance or cold war era phobias.

Not shocking that Americans are afraid and are willing to make serious compromises for an imagined sense of security.