What is your situation?

[TBF]

Poll question: What is your situation?

They say never talk about money, religion, or politics in nice company... but we talk about all those here so I'm going to ask. I'm curious...

Please also comment on your choice if you'd like.

[annabanana]

1. um. . "satisfied/dissatisfied"

No delineation?.. no degrees of satisfaction?

[TBF]

2. That's why I'm hoping some will write comments.

I wanted to look at the income stratification vs. general attitude. Obviously some will feel strongly but many may be somewhere in the middle. I was thinking along the lines of "are you still going to support Obama in 2012, or will you be looking for a new dem candidate to challenge" - that sort of thing.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. Definitely interested in primary challenge. ( Do you know anyone?)

I want to support someone who's with me on the basics: pro-peace/non-intervention; pro-glbt; pro-union/public education.

Mr. Obama is not.

>>>>I wanted to look at the income stratification vs. general attitude>>>

Income is high-ish right now; but will be halved within a year or two when I retire. Or when THEY retire me. ( see "pro-union/public education" above )

[TBF]

17. I am nobody...

got involved in politics by working on Obama's campaign and wonder where my candidate disappeared to. I am high-income, pro-union (rare, I know). I strongly support unions, public education, pro-peace, pro civil rights (including women, immigrants, glbt).

I like Kucinich, Sanders, Franken - folks like that.

[ejpoeta]

3. well, it's not really MY income. i am a SAHM. my husband works to support us

while i take care of the kids. but i support obama. i think he is trying, but there are too many moneyed interests with plenty to lose and too many senators and congressfolks who depend on contributions from those moneyed interests. and too many folks watching faux news and not bothering to find things out for themselves as well.

[TBF]

5. I'm in the same situation right now -

took a few years off with my youngest. I just meant household income & general feeling towards Obama & this administration right now.

[Dulcinea]

120. Same here.

And I agree with everything you said. Obama is doing what he can with what he has to work with, & it ain't much.

[old mark]

4. Retired, little income. Saddened rather than dissatisfied, but I was

probably unrealistically enthusiastic at his election. I'm still glad he won, he is certainly better than the alternative, just to moderate and condecending.

mark

[boomerbust]

15. Same here

Disabled factory slave. 32 years. Income less than 20k. Huge Obama supporter but becoming deeply saddened by recent turn of events. Obama better get his head out of his ass before its to late, if its not already.

[TBF]

18. My mom is in this category with y'all -

she is mid-60's and actually liked Hillary but my sister convinced her to vote for Obama. She retired at 62 and works part-time at McDonalds to get out of the house and supplement her insurance. She hates republicans but worries about the economy.

[old mark]

118. Me, too - my working life is done - thankfully- but I have no idea how

working people can live on today's wages and at today's costs...I don't know many young people, like under 30, but the few I do know are ALL working poor, and several are not working at all.

Someone important has to wake up to this quick, preferably a Democrat. Times like these were the spawning grounds of the Nazis and Fascists in the Great Depression...anger, poverty and hopelessness.


mark

[jschurchin]

6. The President has my support

and he will until he leaves office. Too many want to blame everything that happens in D.C. on Barack Obama. He is the President, and like all Presidents he has very limited ability to determine policy.

Like all previous Presidents, he has ideas that he would like to see implemented, however, the pukes in congress are the ones that present the final ideas to him for approval. Do any of you here really think that the President is thrilled with the health care bill he signed?

It was a compromise, and IMHO a lousy one at that. It's nothing more than a gift to major health insurance providers. But make no mistake, President Obama didn't write the legislation, now did he?

[liberal N proud]

7. Just think what you would have had if he had not won in 2008

Palin/McCain Presidency

And if you keep on hating the Democrats, WE will jump right back into that fire we have been trying to recover from.

Go for it!

[TBF]

8. I responded in #2 -

I wanted to look at the income stratification vs. general attitude. Obviously some will feel strongly but many may be somewhere in the middle. I was thinking along the lines of "are you still going to support Obama in 2012, or will you be looking for a new dem candidate to challenge" - that sort of thing.

[liberal N proud]

9. Democrats will not challenge Obama in 2012.

The party does not play that way, either party.

It is just how the parties set themselves up.

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. Kennedy, McCarthy, '68? Kennedy, '80? Reagan, '76? nt

[dmallind]

21. Lost. Lost. Lost. That's why the parties have learned not to play that game lo these 30 years. NT

[Smarmie Doofus]

24. The challenges themselves were pretty successful.

The 1980 challenge to Carter being the exception... as it had no lasting positive impact to the party or the country.

But:

McCarthy arguably drove LBJ out of the race early on and set the stage for liberals to take control of the party in the next election cycle. And had the primary electorate selected the nominee, instead of the the party apparatchiks, Humphrey would never have been nominated in '68. The primary electorate plays a much more decisive role in selecting nominees now than it did then. Hence, a primary challenge to Obama *might* be feasible.

Reagan's '76 : very nearly defeated Ford outright and *absolutely* set the stage for the far RW takeover of the party... and the country... in 1980.

[ThomWV]

12. In truth things wouldn't have been much different if McCain had won

Just what is it that people think would be different? Would we have Single Payer? Would we be out of Afghanistan? Would the Bush Tax Cuts continue unmolested? Would the Court have moved to the Right?

[TBF]

16. The Court -

Kagan's a positive pick as far as I'm concerned. There are some issues with her, but overall I think a McCain/Palin pick would've been far more damaging.

But when we talk about income, jobs, how people are doing day to day - I was hopeful Obama would do more to help workers. Just my two cents.

[liberal N proud]

36. McCain would be dead by now

And we would have Mama Grizz as Pres.

We sure as hell wouldn't have single payer but probably single PRAYER! The bu$h tax cuts would have been doubled because after all, that is the way out of a recession and takes care of the deficit according to the neocons.

I shudder to think where this country would be under a Palin regime.

[JoePhilly]

60. Would my neice who had cancer at 2 have insurance coverage now?

No.

Would unemployment have been extended, no.
Ledbetter ... no.
Would stimulus have passed and stopped the hemorrhaging of jobs, no.
Any financial reform ... no
Would we be down to 50k troops in Iraq, no.
What would McCain be doing on Afghanistan ... scares me to think about.
What would McCain's position be on the AZ immigration law?
Or the 14th amendment?
DADT?

[NNN0LHI]

148. How many weeks of UC benefits were available under past Republican administrations?

[readmoreoften]

160. I can't think of any difference--except that Democrats would be against the war again.

And not Bush policy apologists.

[emilyg]

53. Tired, ineffective line.

[liberal N proud]

55. The grass is always greener

Right?

[LaurenG]

13. Well I support him but I am dissatisfied

I'm pretty sure human beings can feel both at the same time. I want him to be successful and will support him but I am angry that I am now being labeled because I am unsatisfied with too much of what he's doing. At this point I would take him over any republican and even though I'd love to support a green candidate I won't throw my vote away.

[TBF]

14. I think alot of people will fit in the middle somewhere -

thanks for your comments. Many seem "saddened" rather than "outraged" or whatever, I think that's really common right now amongst Obama's voters/supporters.

[jpljr77]

19. Total household income over $150K (barely) ....

and TWO voters who support our President.

[Demeter]

20. Where Is the Scared Shitless response?

[TBF]

22. I'll count that as "dissatisfied" ... nt

[knitter4democracy]

23. I'm a teacher looking for work. I voted dissatisfied.

I'm currently a writing coach at the alternative high school in town (best school I've ever been in, hands-down), and I wish they could hire me as a teacher. Not enough money. Currently, my position is grant-funded by the state (so I'm a bit nervous), and I get paid $85/day with no benefits. I do get some spousal and child support, but the spousal's not going to last all that much longer, so I'm nervous about getting a good teaching job soon.

I am seriously dissatisfied. He's taking Bush's extralegal actions and running with them (something we warned the Right would happen, and they didn't listen to us), he's pretty much ignoring his base and the massive needs of this nation while he panders to the GOP (who will always work against him) in the name of bipartisanship, and he's against the public schools. Where is a real jobs plan? Where is the public option for health insurance (I can't afford it and wish I had it)? Where are the promises he made during the campaign? Why is he escalating in Afghanistan when we should be pulling out of there entirely?!

I knew he was a corporatist even during the campaign, but this is more than disheartening.

[TBF]

30. Agree -

the Arne Duncan pick was atrocious, people need jobs, people deserve affordable health care, and Bagram becoming the new Gitmo is not my idea of change.

Thanks for your comments.

[lpbk2713]

25. I'm on Social Security.

And I support the President for the most part.

He beats the hell out of the asshole that occupied the Oval Office before him.

[ipaint]

26. Straddled poor and low wage working class my entire adult life.

A couple years of decent income thrown in the middle. Doesn't matter what party is in control. My class is the first to suffer life threatening cuts from both parties. Down here at the bottom nothing much changes regardless of party.
I'm 54, female and unemployed currently, you have to have a masters for a minimum wage position these days, those falling out of what they thought was the middle class have gobbled up jobs that traditionally supported me through past recessions.

I participate on a forum for the unemployed in which I read of countless people losing their cars, houses, and kids (as a result of homelessness) and now try to survive on the streets. We even recently had a regular contributor who exhausted all benefits, had a ill wife and child in a homeless shelter and him on the streets, blow his brains out.

In the 38 years I have been in the workforce, it's only gotten worse for those of us at the bottom, regardless of party.

[TBF]

27. Thanks for your comments -

and I agree. I don't know what it's going to take to get more Dems to notice. Perhaps more will have to lose their jobs before they understand that the problems are systemic in nature.

[ipaint]

52. I have noticed many of the newly poor, former middle class that are

now experiencing grossly inadequate food stamps, unemployment and literally the absence of any safety net in many cases, are having a light bulb moment and seriously questioning how they could support representatives (in both parties but especially repubs) who cut those safety nets to the bone or eliminated them completely.
There is something about groveling and begging and pleading for the basic human right of food and shelter from the pampered millionaires in power that has a transforming effect on peoples attitudes towards those less fortunate. Once these increasing numbers of people also begin to understand this isn't going to end anytime soon but instead get worse and there is no health care, no good job, no end in sight... there will be hell to pay.

Rescuing the middle class is not going to rescue the economy, not this time. That black hole the wealthy have been digging for the last thirty years and that many of us have been living in is plenty big enough for all of you who think you are still immune to poverty and if for some stroke of incredible luck you escape it will be waiting for your children.

[TBF]

92. I think you're right about that -

it is sobering and very sad. The layoffs the past 2 years have hit a lot of really good hard-working people who wouldn't be unemployed if the economy hadn't tanked. Everyone knows what caused it (even the republicans are starting to admit it), but that doesn't make it any easier if you are the one unemployed and not knowing when you'll work again.

[MilesColtrane]

28. I'm dissatisfied yet I support this administration.

No option for that one.

[Redbear]

29. I agree.

I have disagreed with about three dozen things the President has done, but he has my support.

[TBF]

31. Thanks for your comment Miles -

I don't like to do a middle category in polls because everyone picks it. Would rather see if people feel strongly on one side or the other.

[rucky]

32. As I've said before: I'm somewhere between satisfied and dissatisfied.

But not neutral.

[TBF]

33. You know it's funny I've heard people say DU skews upward in

income, but that's not holding true in this poll. Very interesting stuff here.

[Starry Messenger]

34. Maybe they are late sleepers.

:D

[TBF]

35. True, California is just getting to work at this hour...

:)

[Starry Messenger]

37. I'll give it one more kick before I go.

I'm about to head to my classroom to keep setting up for the year. School starts Monday!

[maryf]

57. Nooooooooooo!

argh. ;)

[Starry Messenger]

61. It's all good!

I felt kind of excited! This is my fifth year at the school and I think this will be an interesting year. They are doing all kinds of construction and hopefully by next Spring, Ceramics will actually have a new classroom that me and my teaching partner helped design, so that's pretty cool. Of course, our jobs were hanging by a thread last year so that was scary, but we're actually back this year, so there's a spot of feeling relieved there!

[maryf]

81. just kidding!!

wow, new ceramics classroom? Fantastic, I'm envious!

[boppers]

140. Maybe somebody should kick this for the Friday evening crowd?

(Oooh! ceramics!)

[county worker]

38. Our household income is over 150K. Just my wife and I.

I feel like the "professional liberals" do. I am glad a Dem is in the WH and we have a Dem congress but I expected a definite turn to the left. I am not at all happy about Obama's achievements since all of them are watered down to get a "bipartisan" bill or to please the corporate masters.

I expected a jobs bill like the WPA. I expected a public option health care system. I expected card check to be passed by now. I expected the wars to be ended. I expected DADT to be gone. I expected Gitmo to be closed. I expected real financial reforms to prevent the things that caused the crisis we are in. I expected climate change legislation. I expected alternatives to fossil fuels being if utmost importance.

There is no reason we could not have had those things by now. I feel like I did in 2000. I feel a great chance is slipping through our fingers.

I expect to see social security privatized, benefits cut, retirement age raised to 70, medicare benefits cut, and the home interest deduction eliminated in the false idea that we need to do that to cut the deficit. I don't believe the Bush tax cuts will expire. I don't think we will end the war in Afghanistan anytime soon.

We could end the wars and let the tax cuts expire, have a works program, support union growth, education for all, bolster the middle class. I doubt any of that will happen and I doubt Obama will be re-elected. I remember waiting for Bill Clinton to turn left and got NAFTA and workfare.

Just recently a judge says that Prop 8 is unconstitutional yet Obama still does not support gay marriage. That means to me he does not support the constitution he is sworn to defend!
Yes our income is over 150K and yes I am unhappy with Obama.

[TBF]

39. With ya - on every single sentence. nt

[county worker]

49. I was working for Organizing for America. I recently resigned

I wrote a letter to them saying what I said in my post. I contributed to Obama's campaign and worked for his election. I even got an invitation to the inauguration. For some reason I got an "I support the President" T-shirt in the mail.

I will vote for Dems like I always do but I am not happy about the job they are doing.

[Dappleganger]

108. You said just about everything I believe, our income is $82,000.

It is less than we brought in more than a decade ago but we are making do (having to stuff away as much cash as possible into savings which was used up during dh's last long layoff).

I really, really like the man President Obama and believe he wants to do well. However, he has become entranced by big corporations and allowed himself to become influenced by people who are not real Democrats. He had me up until Arne introduced "Race to the Top"--that did it for me.

I feel like we had a chance to do this country some real good for once and now that has slipped away. I feel sad for both my generation but also for my children and their children as well. :(

[truebrit71]

113. Ditto for my situation as well...I am dumb-founded as to why the Prez ran directly to the centre...

...after the election...At this point he (and the Dem Congressional majority) has pissed away a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make some deeply meaningful change (there's that word again) in the way this country sees itself and the world...but instead of "change" we got no war crimes trials, we still torture, Gitmo is still open, we are still in Iraqistan, the banks emptied the Treasury Department coffers and Obama helped them load up the van before they drove away, health care reform is a thinly-veiled gift to the insurers, the environmental policy is apparently taken from the McCain/Failin platform of drill-baby-drill, there is open war against progressives/liberals, and Union-baiting has been taken to Reagan-like heights...

Is it better than it would have been under McCain, we'll never know..but one thing this administration had better do fast is find religion and start praying..because if the GOP seizes control of the House in November, the next 2 years will be nothing but investigations and impeachment hearings..you know..what the Dems should have been doing for the last 18 fucking months...

[MilesColtrane]

119. That was the IQ Poll in which almost everybody claimed to score 120 or higher.

;)

[haele]

159. DU may have skewed upwards three years ago -

But there have been a lot of posts about forclosures, downturns in small businesses, layoffs, and job hunts over the past two years.
I suspect that there's been a drastic drop in income with the regulars lately.

Haele

[JustAnotherGen]

40. Over 150K and dissatisfied

I fully expected to have the 28% I paid to the Fed in February (I always have to pay more) to go towards:

Health Care for those who cannot afford it/Medicare for all
Veterans assistance – as opposed to an occupation and ongoing war
Infrastructure Rebuild
A warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and well fed population of children, disabled, and the elderly
A well educated group of children


I wanted a new New Deal. Is he a failure as a leader? Nope! Where I work we say: Today I did a good job – but tomorrow I can do even better.

Tomorrow is now. He needs to do better. He needs to lead the leadership in Congress to doing better. He needs to listen to the frustration and anger of people that support the Graysons, Weiners, Wassermans, Kucinichs. Less Rahm, and more of Ms. Warren.

I honestly *think* (not believe, nothing heartfelt here) – I THINK the key to a lot of the financial problems which roll into ‘social situation discussions’ could be alleviated if we put people back to work re-building (literally) America. It’s not throwing money out the window – it’s bridges, roads, expansion of public transportation, doing all of these with a green energy edge (opens a whole new line of business for America).

It’s simple – and it’s worked before.

I’ll be satisfied when my tax dollars go toward re-building this country, thereby increasing the money in its citizens pockets, so that we can ensure the last, the least and the lost are taken care of, and look forward to a prosperous future with tiny talent running around – but that needs to be TAUGHT in order to innovate in 20 years.

Long and wordy – but it’s what I believe. I’m also a single woman, never married, no children. I pay a portion of my salary to ENSURE my parents can afford their prescriptions. I have given away about 12% to charities thus far this year (Second Harvest, Boys and Girl Club, Human Rights Watch, Stop Genocide Now, etc. etc.). I also give to my Unitarian Universalist Church.

I’m sharing that because even if my taxes are raised or kept the same and put to GOOD USE – I’m not going to abandon any organization that I currently support.


Am I rich in salary? I believe I am. Am I rich in a world of billionaires? Nope. But I have it good. Somehow the voices of those of us that make a better than good living and have really solid savings as a safety net – but have no issues in putting back into our country because it’s the MORALLY RIGHT THING TO DO TO BE A FELLOW AMERICANS ‘KEEPER’ . . . we are getting lost in the mix of the ‘class war’.

[TBF]

43. Infrastructure rebuild -

and on so many levels.

All the construction work but also rebuilding Education (through PUBLIC schools). All that money for war yet we can't educate & retrain our work force. We have a crumbling infrastructure. Cities are trying to save money by turning street lights off... which will only lead to more crime (and we've got enough folks incarcerated as it is).

I feel the same way on the tax issue. I was shocked that we got a refund last year. I give to animal charities, but also the local food banks and shelters. That will not change for me either.

[JustAnotherGen]

44. And the key thing on infrastructure?

It's worked before. I know - *gasp*. I don't understand why we can't put the construction/home repair folks back to work? Okay - so new home builds are down . . . but bridges being RE-built?

It's a necessity.

[TheKentuckian]

41. Broke and livid

[TBF]

42. I hear ya.

And I don't blame you one bit.

[tilsammans]

45. Unemployed, but . . .

. . . I don't blame Obama for that. I like the man, but I find it very distressing that he's surrounded himself with corporatist yes men.

THAT is not "change."

:rant:

[w8liftinglady]

46. I am on long term disability and am spending 600/month for health insurance

perhaps that's one of the reasons I'm less than thrilled.

[TBF]

48. I'd love to see the entire Senate and House go without insurance for a year.

Or at least not have it provided for them. They would have to try to obtain coverage, and see what the rest of us are dealing with in costs. At my husband's firm the principals pay more to subsidize the staff but it's still costly and the deductibles are high on both levels.

[w8liftinglady]

91. i have seen this on a much smaller level...

rabid right-wingers who change their thoughts when they are poor,out of jobs,no insurance.My care remains the same regardless of those things.everyone deserves caring treatment.That's what makes us different from them.

[MilesColtrane]

121. It would annoy them, but it wouldn't hurt most of them.

Average net worth of a United States Congressman as of 2008 was 6.9 million dollars.

I'm guessing it's around 5.5 million now, but poised to increase as the economy improves.

[TBF]

133. That is a really good point,

and I'm glad you made it so people can see those numbers. That's why these folks are clueless. They have no idea how the rest of us live.

[rexcat]

47. I am not happy with Obama but what is the alternative...

I don't see anyone in the Democratic Party challenging him in 2012. What I do fear is if he loses in 2012 what will become of the country with the republicans in charge again. Ragun, Bush I and Bush II have destroyed the economy with their "all taxes are bad" meme. The republican party is so far to the right that even moderates look like liberals. The whole country is just f..ked up at this point.

[TBF]

50. I think it's systemic as well -

empire collapsing is not pretty. Not that is was ever great in this country for low income folks, and it was especially horrific for the slave labor, but there genuinely was an attempt in the 50's/60's to create a middle class. If you look at tax rates from those decades (all the way up to a 90% top rate at one point) it tells the tale.

[rexcat]

56. My wife and I consider ourselves as middle class based...

on our education (public universities) and upbringing but our income reflects something else. I think 90% top tax rate at the margin is a little high but the current top tax rate at the margin could be higher. Of course I am shooting myself in the foot when I say that. My wife and I have payed the alternative minimum tax (AMT) for about 10 years. When we bought our Honda Civic hybrid two years ago we did not receive the tax credit thanks to the AMT. We have consistently missed out on a lot of tax credits but those with a lower income do get them and I don't have a problem with that. I don't mind paying as long as there are no surprises at tax time. Being self-employed can be tricky when it comes to taxes and that is where my accountant (CPA) really helps! The one thing I can't stand are the tax cheats. They are hurting the country because of their greed.

[LWolf]

51. My income is 35-75K and I am appalled by the Obama administration. nt

[lukasahero]

54. I would have liked to see degrees of satisfaction

but have to admit I'm disappointed. I have a pretty good understanding of what is and what is not within the President's ability to change but I don't see much support coming from the White House for liberal issues. We don't have to win but it would be nice if we at least fought every once in a while.

[maryf]

58. 35 -75 very unhappy, but not surprised...

Your poll seems to follow the numbers here:

Obama's approval rating has plummeted by 24 percentage points among those with a household income that is less than $50k annually. He's dropped 13 points within the $50k to $100k bloc over the same period. And he's fallen 17 points within the $100k to $150k bloc.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/08/10/rich_dems_stand_by_obama_106686.html

Still trying to souse why the bracket I'm in seems to support Obama more than the one below and the one above...more afraid? holding on tighter? :???:

[TBF]

62. Well it's a small sample,

and holding on for dear life in that $75-$150K category is the way I see it.

[maryf]

79. Sorry I'm stuck in this thought...

the 35 to 75 is happier with Obama than the group making more, or again from the link:

Obama's approval rating has plummeted by 24 percentage points among those with a household income that is less than $50k annually. He's dropped 13 points within the $50k to $100k bloc over the same period. And he's fallen 17 points within the $100k to $150k bloc. 24 to 13 to 17, see what I mean?? Why?

24% for below 50K, 13% for 50 to 100K, then drops again some to 17% for over 100K....what's with the middle block?

In your poll the folks between 35 -75 seem to be happier than those on either side...weird? I'm in the middle block in both polls, and I'm extremely unhappy...

anyway, forgive my bullheadness, consider it a healthy kick!! Good job!

[maryf]

95. Got a good answer...

about why that the second rung up is always more supportive...McD managers etc...one above the lowest paid workers ...

[TBF]

134. Still reaching for that American Dream. nt

[onethatcares]

59. I happen to support President Obama but

don't support the entire administration. Emanuel, Geithner.

[TBF]

63. Yes, it would be interesting to see this poll done with more nuances.

I specifically wanted a sort of up/down vote tied to income but there are certainly related factors that would be interesting to poll.

[BootinUp]

64. interesting poll. nt

[GoCubsGo]

65. It is not the Obama administration that makes me unhappy.

It is our worthless, sack-of-shit Congress that pisses me off. Both sides. The President can only do so much. One thing he cannot do is get Congressional and Senate Democrats to grow a fucking spine. Bunch of goddamn cowards. They are the ones who are supposed to write and pass the laws, including those that would repeal DADT, cut off funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan police actions, and properly stimulate the economy. Useless. Fucking useless.

[BootinUp]

66. +1

[SoCalDem]

67. One can be dissatisfied AND still support n/t

[TBF]

68. Absolutely -

most of us will go in and vote for him in 2012, obviously, we're interested enough to be posting on a democratic website. Just interested in very general terms how satisfaction breaks down by income.

[glen123098]

69. My income is about 9K a year, and I am mixed on Obama.

[mnhtnbb]

70. We are not hurting for money and I wish Obama would shoot for the moon.

We need single payer health care.

We need social security protected.

We need JOBS JOBS JOBS!

We need to get off our horrible dependence upon oil.

We need to pay teachers MORE not less.

We need to support public education--not make money for companies that write/grade tests.

We need to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

We need to rebuild our cities, our bridges, our highways.

We need to develop alternative energy programs (and I don't mean fracking for natural gas to destroy
our fresh water)

We need to forget about treating corporations like people and treat people like people.

[maryf]

101. It's not the moon...

It's called human needs...good list!

[mnhtnbb]

107. It shouldn't be the moon, but given our political, economic and social climate

it feels like it is.

[MrSlayer]

71. Slightly over 100k. I support the President but.....

I really wish he was better at the job. He's way too fair to those who want to destroy him.

[Ohio Joe]

72. Other

I am unemployed for almost two years now and on the verge of being homeless. I support some things President Obama has done, dis-agree with other things he has done and feel there is a goodly number of things he should be doing but is not.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

73. Well, I don't usually believe in social darwinism, but...

[obliviously]

74. Ungrateful wretches!

[Iggo]

75. I'm dissatisfied with the Admin so far, and I still support Obama.

Those are not opposites.

[TBF]

76. Others have made the same comment -

I was asking in very general terms here. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[Iggo]

86. Ah. Once again I replied before perusing the other replies.

I keep doin' that!

[eridani]

77. Though I put "dissatisfied" here, on generic phone surveys I always say "support"

Generic surveyers don't recognize left dissent, and I don't want them mistaking it for Repuke disapproval.

[TBF]

83. Yes, I completely understand that and others here have

indicated they feel the same way.

[sandnsea]

78. The ones who gained the most

are the least satisfied. Maybe that's how folks end up voting against their own best interest.

[TBF]

84. Maybe those in the under $35K range feel that they

haven't gained anything. So that means one of two things - either nothing has changed for them or it's a perception problem.

[sandnsea]

89. It's a perception problem

They've gained increased food stamps, unemployment, pell grants, student loan reduction, $400 tax credit, increased child tax credit, job training programs, home weatherization assistance, education improvement, health care for kids, healthier school lunches... off the top of my head.

[demodonkey]

105. A lot of those things are NOT available to a lot of people under $35K...

...but that said, this is not all Obama's fault.

You can't let the shit pile up in your barn for 8 years and expect someone to shovel it ALL out in 19 months.

[ipaint]

112. Bandaids on symptoms. Repeatedly torn off and put back on

countless times over the last 4 decades. The problem as a result is worse than ever.
The solution to the problem is to reverse the massive transfer of taxpayer wealth to the top. Until we actually move in that direction the poor will get poorer and the rich will get richer. And as they gobble up the middle class, assisted now by a goldman sachs administration, if you aren't poor you or if you are lucky enough to be spared your children will be.

For the record I don't vote against my class's self interests, and I wonder why so many who are not poor yet do.

[sandnsea]

132. Uh, when was poverty not a problem?

You do know that the majority of these programs have all been implemented at some point within the last 4 decades, right? You're saying low-income assistance has created a greater problem, the situation for the bottom 10% is worse than it was in the 60s, or 50s or before?

Let's go back to the 40s and 50s, when the upper income tax rate was 90%. There weren't any poor people? Did you ever see, or read, anything about Bobby Kennedy's visits to the poor in America?

I'm trying to figure out what point in time you are referring to, if you think the poor are worse off today than... when?

And who exactly do you vote for?

[ipaint]

141. The programs have been cut to the bone since reagan.

Taking the money that the elite steal and hoard which by the way is wealth the working classes created over decades of increased productivity and no corresponding wage and benefit increases, and redistributing it back to the working classes and the poor in the form of universal health care, guaranteed low income housing, adequate food for everyone, free education, full unemployment etc for anyone unemployed who needs it, etc. would pretty much eliminate extreme poverty except in a very small minority.

In other words invest in the people of this country not the banks and corporations. Exactly the opposite of what is happening today. Food stamps are grossly inadequate as a result of cuts by reagan and clinton, eligibility for welfare has been so tightened that those who qualify have been cut in half in the last 20 years again thanks to clinton's draconian welfare reform. State and federal governments for 3+ decades have consistently chipped away at social programs rather than raise taxes on the elite.

This is all something middle class people thrown into poverty and destitution by this depression are finding out now but it something that those of us at the bottom have been experiencing for at least three decades now.

As far as your last question, I'll tell you who I don't vote for, anyone who thinks trickle down, cutting social services and bailing out criminals are examples of democracy in action. And I don't vote for liars.

[sandnsea]

142. And what country does that?

I don't know of any country that guarantees free housing, food, heat, and health care.

What assistance do you think was available in the 70s? Meager food stamps that you actually had to purchase with cash at one point in time, housing assistance you could never get, Medicaid, and a welfare check. IF you were absolutely, positively, broke. That's it.

Health care for your kids if you went back to work? Nope. Child care assistance if you were working? Nope. School breakfast? Nope. Food banks in every town? Nope. Relief care for parents with handicapped children? Nope. Down payment assistance? Nope. Job training? Nope. Transportation assistance? Nope.

There are more than a few people around here that need to actually have used these programs, then and now.

[ipaint]

143. I'm sorry, you have no clue and if you can't acknowledge what has happened

to safety nets in this country in the last 30 years I don't have the time to waste arguing with you.

I would suggest holding your tongue when you feel the urge to insinuate that those of us at or near the bottom are too stupid to vote in our own self interest. Being clueless obviously isn't a trait confined only to those of limited means.

[sandnsea]

144. I've used those programs

My husband's mother used those programs. My daughter has 2 kids, is going to college, and using those programs now.

I know what I'm talking about.

I also know that Obama increased the food stamp benefit, waived the time limit, and opened up all of those programs to make them more readily available. Billions of dollars have been expended to help low income people during this recession.

I don't know why you choose to believe otherwise. It's very peculiar to me.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

80. "support Obama" and "dissatisfied with this Admin" aren't mutually exclusive. -nt

[Chemical Bill]

82. I am dissatisfied and support Obama at 60K/year.

Black/white? No, gray.

Bill

[femmocrat]

85. Same here.

Dissatisfied teacher, here, but I still support the democrats.

[boppers]

87. Interesting numbers!

Will have to keep an eye on this one, but there seems to be a clear trend...

[Poboy]

94. Yes, lower incomes are the most disproportionally

dissatisfied. The most dissapointed

[boppers]

99. A theory: Obama's huge accomplishments do little for the working poor.

Auto bailout: doesn't help poor working class, does help lower-middle class and working class
Cash for Clunkers: didn't help people too poor to have a car or buy a new one
Health Reform: Adds a burden to poor
Financial Regulation: Doesn't help people who don't have enough money to invest in the luxury (yes, it's a luxury, ask a homeless person) of a bank account or credit card, let alone stocks.
RttT: The poor have shitty schools, and need support, but the program doesn't seem to address this issue.
Ledbetter: So, if you're rich enough to buy a lawyer, it's useful, but otherwise, you're still hosed.
Student Loans: If you're rich enough to send your kids to school, great, it's helpful, but if you can't afford that, then what?

I could keep going, but a question to ask: If you're making $10-19K a year, can't afford food, medicine, a car, a house.... what has Obama done for you? I don't have a good answer, and I'm a *supporter*.

[maryf]

104. +1 for your theory nt.

[TBF]

131. Someone down lower in the thread recently commented

on a FDR style jobs program - and I believe that's what we need. War is not a jobs program. We need to do better.

[pitohui]

88. i am v. low income from a v, poor state but i have to admit, i'm impressed

obama has achieved things i thought no man could do and he's just getting started

if there's any hope for me other than the shotgun in my old age he's it

a $20 billion BP victim's fund? a health care bill? fuck, NO ONE could have done that stuff and he's just in warm-up as a freshman

have to say i'm stunned at what a good job he's doing

my personal situation ain't pretty but i am optimistic...

[TBF]

90. The BP victim's fund is an attempt to limit liability -

insurance companies often do this when they have an overwhelming amount of cases (like the lawsuits from years of working in mines and becoming ill, etc...). The difference this time is that they responded quickly, but I'm sure they were already receiving lawsuits when they set it up.

Health care - many want universal health care, but yes those of us who remember the Clinton experience are happy to see something come through. If people with so-called "pre-existing conditions" are able to get insurance that is at least one improvement. Many of us just wanted more I guess.

Thanks for your comments - good to hear the specifics of why people are pleased as well.

[maryf]

93. Kicking this again...

and will continue, why you aren't on the greatest page with an honest poll, and some very balanced posts is beyond me!! :yourock:

[TBF]

96. Thanks -

Some didn't like that there wasn't a "dissatisfied but support" choice. I didn't include any "gray area" choices intentionally because I wanted a good sense of satisfaction at given incomes.

But, no worries, I think we can see the trends even in this small sample and the comments were helpful in understanding some of the votes.

One other thing - that Gibbs guy is way off base. He is not focused on the folks making under 35K. Figure out what they need, Mr. Gibbs, and make it happen. If they need jobs come up with a federal jobs program. Don't worry about what the latest pundit may or may not be saying on any given day. My guess is the elections will go much more smoothly if you can just do that.

[maryf]

97. sounds like a sensible plan to me...

sense doesn't seem to be Gibbs' strong suit...

[maryf]

109. Hey TBF

every kick seems to bring in a couple more votes...how many people are there here anyway?

[TBF]

114. About 500 people were pissed off at Gibbs -

and I know about that many checked in re voting for Obama in 2008 - I know they must get that many cruising through here every day. Probably many more...

[maryf]

123. Well you definitely picked up more votes since my last kick!!

Here's another still!! :kick:

[maryf]

146. and a lot more again...

:kick:

[maryf]

98. and a good night kick...

to see if your sample can pick up a few more! :)

[shimmergal]

100. Actually, my income's under 35,000

(mostly social security) but I live in a 3-generation family situation and the household income would be in the 75,000-150,000 category.

But either way, ALL the adults in my extended family are very disappointed in Obama so far. We did vote for him and will do so again, unless a progressive challenger appears to have a real chance of success. But regretfully his obsession with "bipartisanship" and winning RWers' approval (which he will never get) keeps him from any truly effective response to the nation's problems.

I don't totally buy the argument that it's Congress that's the stumbling block. Some presidents have had "insiders" knowledge about Congress--both the way it works and their acquaintance with individual Congresscritters--and know how to work the levers of power there. By rewards and threats even, if necessary. As a less than full one-term Senator, Obama didn't have this, and it shows. And he hasn't used his powerful rhetorical gifts to rally public support where it would make a difference, either. Above all, I'd like to feel that a Democratic president is willing to fight for some of the things we believe in. Even if he/she only does it on 25% of the issues. I haven't seen it happening on ANY big issues; he seems to start with compromises, which is terrible strategy.

I do support him given the present situation. But it's like this Admin. is the little boy with his finger in the dike, holding off the corporatocracy and right wing crazies while they wait to turn us into a Third-World Plutocracy. That's not good enough for the country I love. And I don't see things changing much even under the best-case scenario of an 8-year Obama Presidency. Too much of his model of governing is a reflection of his personality, I think, and such things don't change.

At the same time, what's the alternative? It's very good that we have people like Grayson, Wiener (sp?), Kucinich etc. speaking out, but none of them have the stature to mount a credible primary challenge, IMO. The only Democrats who do, in my opinion, would be Howard Dean or Hillary Clinton, and neither is likely to do so.

Smarmie Doofus is right that sometimes a primary challenger has had major impact on a party; I suppose it could happen again. Also it's worth taking a look at the Ross Perot campaign of 1992, which not only drew 19% of the vote but did majorly influence the Clinton administration's fiscal policy, which led to our last few years of genuine economic growth. Too bad they didn't listen to Perot about NAFTA.

Sorry for the long post; this poll just set my mental wheels turning!

[maryf]

102. everyone's mental wheels need turning!

and their voices need to be making a lot of noise...

[TBF]

103. Thanks for your comments -

these are the kinds of discussions we need to be having.

[maryf]

106. kicking again...nt

[cynatnite]

110. Can't I be dissatisfied, yet support the administration still? n/t

[TBF]

116. Yes, I answered that question many times throughout -

just looking for a general sense. I know most of us will vote for him anyway given the other choice, but how satisfied are you with the administration at this point in time?

[cynatnite]

124. Honestly, it's about 50/50...what I'd expect from a centrist like Obama. n/t

[Statistical]

111. household income or personal income? n/t

[TBF]

115. Household income. nt

[DFW]

117. Overlap, not either or

I am dissatisfied (so far) with the administration, but support Obama (so far).

Income--not starving, no debts. The rest is irrelevant.

[TBF]

127. I agree that politics is economics -

no doubt about that. Thanks for your comment.

[IndianaGreen]

122. Other

The issue is jobs, and both major parties played a role in our jobs being shipped overseas and our industrial base allowed to crumble.

Unemployment is much higher than 10% when one considers those that are underemployed. The job situation is dismal, and there are no prospects for it getting better short of a New Deal style intervention by the government.

[TBF]

130. New Deal style intervention -

I personally think that would be the thing to ensure Obama another term. Hire people to work on infrastructure, teaching (both kids & re-training adults). War is not a jobs program - we need to do better.

[maryf]

145. keep an eye out for October 2nd rally in DC, nt

Jobs and human needs hit the streets...

[scheming daemons]

125. There's a helluva lot of DUers making under $35K........

...

[TBF]

128. I noticed that too and it actually surprised me -

although it shouldn't have given the lay-offs the past 2 years.

Someone ought to print this off and give it to Gibbs. His problem is not the "professional left" - most of the high income folks who are dissatisfied are sick of war and want to see their tax dollars pay for keeping folks alive vs. killing them. The under $35K crowd stands out as particularly dissatisfied. I would think that would be useful information for him.

[boppers]

135. If only there was something that could tell us... oh, wait,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States

[TBF]

136. Right - more people are lower income than high - we know that

I was just surprised to see it on-line. All that proves is that there are more people on line than in the past. And bunches of those at the lower income level are pretty po'ed.

[boppers]

138. Well, the voices of marginalized people are mattering more.

I think this is a good thing.

[TBF]

139. Absolutely. nt

[taught_me_patience]

126. 150k+ and dissatisfied

Things I don't like:
Continued war
Weak healthcare reform without a public option
Weak financial reform
Continued bailouts of fannie and freddi
Gitmo

[TBF]

129. I hear ya and echo those concerns.

thanks for commenting.

[Greyhound]

137. Kick for interesting results. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

147. Friday night kick!

[TheFarseer]

149. this administration has failed to

stop jobs from going overseas. They have not even tried to do anything about it that I can tell. They haven't curbed those H1B visas. This is my biggest issue with the current administration. They have done a few things well, but I cannot believe that they say they are saving jobs and creating jobs but they still allow the mass exodus race to the bottom on jobs to continue. All they are doing is saving government jobs, which is fine, but they don't have any policy to save private sector jobs. All they know is throwing money at problems. This will only get you so far and it WILL NOT solve the underlying problem. - not that any Republican would do anything about it!

[Zephie]

150. I am dissatisfied with Obama's idea of "Change", but I guess at least...

It isn't McCain... He's liable to have a heart attack and then we would have had President Palin... Still, Obama has let me down greatly.

[immune]

151. Late to the party ...

Disabled/SS, under 35 grand, although my personal situation is comfortable enough, at least for the time being. Obama isn't the Superman we all hoped for, but I'd direct most of my ire toward certain Representatives and Senators rather than the administration, which is not to say that I'm happy about many of Obama's appointments.

Will I vote for Obama in 2012? ... yes, unless we could pull Grayson or Kucinich out of our magic hats.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

152. Dissatisfied, but will support Obama

What am I going to do? Vote for Palin?

Income is less than it used to be, I got laid off in April.

:hi:

[unkachuck]

153. I'm less....

....than 35K and I'm dissatisfied with Obama and my end of this (as others have pointed out) Capitalist Paradise....

....too much paradise for the capitalists, too much hell for the rest of us....

[TBF]

154. Thanks for responding -

It's been very interesting reading these responses and seeing the numbers. More and more people are connecting the dots and seeing that capitalism kills.

I guess it comes down (at least on the left) to whether we can regulate this sucker, or it has to go. Time will tell.

I'll be on vacation next week so I just wanted to thank everyone for responding. I really appreciate it!

[unkachuck]

156. you are very welcome, TBF....n/t

[a kennedy]

155. Wow......35K and dissatisfied......

My income is less than 35K and I am dissatisfied with this Admin (104 votes, 29%) Vote) :cry: :cry: :cry:

[maryf]

157. kick for fun

:)

[boppers]

158. Kick for Saturday afternoon/evening crowd.

Our "weekend DU" folks. :D

[maryf]

161. kick for Sunday morning!!

:)

[TBF]

162. Checking in from the road -

y'all are tireless. Thanks for keeping this bumped. I'm glad some found this exercise interesting. :)