Why Americans will elect Republicans even though they agree with Democrats

[totodeinhere]

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/16/5723950/why-americans-will-elect-republicans

The thing I don't understand about this poll is the notion that the voters want the Republicans to retain some power in Washington in order to act as a check on President Obama. That's just plain crazy. I wish that more people could wake up and see what's really going on here. I realize that most people are busy just trying to scratch out a living and support their families in today's economy. They might not have much energy or time left at their disposal. It's easy to come home after work and collapse on the couch and have a beer and try to forget about everything. But people have got to start paying more attention. Ignorance is the biggest weapon that the Republicans have.

[global1]

1. I Heard That Illinois Is Putting A Minimum Wage Referendum On The November Ballot....

what a great idea to get people out to vote. All states should do this. And in the Repub states where the Repubs would refuse to put it on the ballot - the Dems should make a big issue out of it - that the Repubs are not for raising people's wages. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

[totodeinhere]

2. That is one thing of many that needs to be done. But remember that only about

5% of workers earn the minimum wage. That issue may not be as important to everybody as you might think.

[starroute]

8. If the minimum wage goes up, many more people will get a raise

If the minimum goes from, say, $7.25 to $10.10, then it isn't just the 5% of workers making $7.25 who get a raise. It's also those currently making $8.00 or $9.00 or $9.50.

And minimum wage increases also tend to push up those slightly above the new minimum. If you're a manager making $10.50 an hour and the workers under you start making $10.10, you have a good case for expecting to be paid $12.00 or better.

So it really is a big deal for a lot of people.

[totodeinhere]

13. Yes of course. You and I know that raising the minimum wage benefits other workers as well.

But again it comes down to how informed the average voter is. A lot of people don't stop to realize that until you point that out to them. The Democrats have got to do a better job of pointing out things like that.

[Springslips]

17. I hope to God....

That most people don't need pointed out that people making under $10.10 will get a raise if the minimum wage goes to $10.10; because if not, then everyone on Earth should just commit collective suidcide now, as we'd be to dumb to exist.

[JayhawkSD]

15. Why are we so focused on a minimum wage?

Instead of efforts to create jobs that pay more than minimum wage?

Minimum wage used to be where young people started out. A temporary situation that prepared them to move on to real jobs that paid real wages. A place ththat allowed them to make spending money because they did not yet have wives and families for which they were responsible.

Instead of demanding that the real jobs be restored, we settle for minimum wage jobs as today's careers. We complain that minimum wage is too low to support a family, as if it should be the goal of a family man to support his family on the standard that is accommodated by a minimum wage job. As if the working person today is expecting to make a career out of working in minimum wage jobs.

Minimum wage should not matter, because our workers should not be expected to work at minimum wage jobs for more than a brief, introductory period at the beginning of their working lives before they move on to real jobs.

[vi5]

3. Because they agree with Democrats are SUPPOSED to be for.

When the Democrats themselves fail or refuse to vigorously make the case for it at every turn and every opportunity then how are people supposed to know? Yes, we all know because most of the people on DU are high information voters.

But the average person as you pointed out just doesn't have the time to get anything other than a top line information skim and there just aren't enough examples and soundbytes out there of Democrats vigorously and loudly stating what they stand for and what they will fight for.

And even then a lot of times those Democrats who do speak for those things, do another set of things altogether once the are in office.

[totodeinhere]

5. There is a lot of truth to what you're saying. The Democrats need to

stand up and really work for what most of us believe Democrats should stand for. I agree.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. As Rachel has been pointing out, even ConservaDems lil Pryor and Hagen are standing up strong for

Medicare, expanding Medicaid, and Social Security. Pryor, who was the most vulnerable Democrat was initially losing to a Teabagger Rethug, but had rebounded to move ahead 10 or 11 points just by standing on solid Democratic principles.

Dems are standing up. It is now up to us to GOTV!!!!!

[2pooped2pop]

4. dems haven't learned the use of short catchy phrases

they don't get out the truth enough and when they do it's in a long drawn out way that most people don't bother to listen to. The people we need to reach are the ones who think they know whats going on (from right wing catchy phrases) but don't but won't seek answers, and don't even know the questions.

More truth, less talk, I guess.

[kairos12]

7. Rethugs understand the phrase "if it thinks, it stinks." They don't believe in

thinking so they cash in on people's belief in slogans and 10 second talking points.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. Don't believe everything you read.

[starroute]

9. Most Americans don't even know who controls Congress

That's why they tend to blame both parties equally. So a little education might be the first order of business.

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/15/republicans_insane_political_strategy_ruining_our_country_hurts_the_democratic_party_partner/

The majority of Americans – depending on which survey you look at, between 60 and 75 percent – cannot name which political party controls the House of Representatives, which party controls the Senate, or either.

Because most Americans don’t know who controls Congress, when Congress misbehaves, as they have been doing for six years, most Americans aren’t sure who to blame.

Enter the Republican Chaos Strategy, based entirely on this statistical and political reality.

And common sense suggests that well over 90 percent of Americans know that Barack Obama is the president and that he is a Democrat.

The Republicans know this, too, and it’s the other half of their strategy.

[totodeinhere]

12. That level of ignorance is really scary. n/t

[struggle4progress]

10. Here in NC in 2012 a slight majority of votes were cast for D candidates but due to gerrymandering

R candidates won most of the races

[d_legendary1]

11. Blame those ads that are playing around lunch time at work

Telling people that they should vote for Joe Republican cuz he's willing to cut government waste (social programs), hold schools accountable for their results (except charter schools), and increase the economy (by blaming Democrats).

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. Ignorance, Tradition, and Apathy

Ignorance: Most people don't pay much attention to politics and/or government happenings in this country- at least not beyond what appears to immediately affect them, their friends, family, etc. Many people can't name the leaders of our government and/or how it really operates.

Tradition: Some people vote based on how their parents vote(d) and just keep on voting that way without really taking the time to determine if the people they are voting for accurately reflects their personal views, which might actually be better aligned with Democrats.

Apathy: This is sort of connected to ignorance in that some people don't understand how government works or hold unrealistic expectations about what can be achieved within a short amount of time and wind up feeling discouraged about how things are going and changing/not changing and, in response, they stop paying attention to politics, stop voting, etc.