"(V)oters feel ever more estranged from government...they associate Democrats with government"

[steve2470]

In analyzing these polls in the United States, I see clearly that voters feel ever more estranged from government — and that they associate Democrats with government. If Democrats are going to be encumbered by that link, they need to change voters’ feelings about government. They can recite their good plans as a mantra and raise their voices as if they had not been heard, but voters will not listen to them if government is disreputable.

Oddly, many voters prefer the policies of Democrats to the policies of Republicans. They just don’t trust the Democrats to carry out those promises.

When we conducted our election-night national survey after last year’s Republican sweep, voters strongly chose new investment over a new national austerity. They thought Democrats were more likely to champion the middle class. And as has become clear in the months since, the public does not share conservatives’ views on rejecting tax cuts and cutting retirement programs. Numerous recent polls have shown that the public sides with the president and Democrats on raising taxes to get to a balanced budget.

But in smaller, more probing focus groups, voters show they are fairly cynical about Democratic politicians’ stands. They tune out the politicians’ fine speeches and plans and express sentiments like these: “It’s just words.” “There’s just such a control of government by the wealthy that whatever happens, it’s not working for all the people; it’s working for a few of the people.” “We don’t have a representative government anymore.”

*end of quote by STANLEY B. GREENBERG*

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/tuning-out-the-democrats.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Horseshit.

[KoKo]

2. HUH? Care to expound?

:wtf:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. Repugs are let off the hook, if you follow the "logic."

"Most people agree that Dems are responsible for all government's ails."

It's horseshit.

[Tesha]

5. Well argued; a stunning rebuttal!

Maybe the Democrats should have actually used their power
during the 2009-2010 Congressional session instead of
mostly fiddling while Rome burned.

And please don't embarrass yourself by trotting out "Health
Insurance Reform" as an accomplishment that should cause
the voters to view the Democrats as effective politicians,
struggling mightily for the little guy.

Tesha

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. You're barking up the wrong tree.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. There's a typo on that last paragraph...

voters DU posters show they are fairly cynical about Democratic politicians’ stands. They tune out the politicians’ fine speeches and plans and express sentiments like these: “It’s just words.” “There’s just such a control of government by the wealthy that whatever happens, it’s not working for all the people; it’s working for a few of the people.” “We don’t have a representative government anymore.”

Fixed it for you, and Mr. Greenberg.

[steve2470]

4. I think Greenberg was focussing mainly on our party here

My reading of the article is, voters also associate the Republican Party with government, but they disingenously dissociate themselves from government and try to exploit whatever disaffection there is to gain votes.

Personally, I'm far less cynical about our Senators and Representatives than those of the Republicans.