Penthouse Candidates

Checking GALLUP's Poll on SI (self identified) ideology, I found a bit of "information" that may be interesting...

http://www.gallup.com/poll/151814/Americans-Huntsman-Romney-Paul-Closest-Ideologically.aspx

In a Dec 15-18 poll, (MOE +- 4%)

Americans describe themselves as:

42% very conservative or conservative,
19% very liberal or liberal
37% as moderate (no "very moderate" category ? )

The page continues and reveals how closely Americans identify their values with those of the candidates. Lots of other polls on the same page, all on SI (self identified) ideology, all of which underscore a few things:

1. If these #s are accurate, there's just no "Liberal Media". If there is, it's a failure. Conservative SI's double the liberal SI's, and we are to believe that the media propaganda machine supports the Libs? Bullshit! The Right wing machine has turned the word "liberal" into a pejorative--but we knew that, right?

2. Americans don't vote the way the self identify. There was a Republican surge last election, but nowhere near the split this poll predicts. Of course, the MOE is 4%, which is a bit high, and polling details show a greater number of Independents and Republicans were polled, so the methodology is dodgy from the get go.

3. Most importantly, the push to identify yourself as right/left continues on, without regard to the third dimension in politics - economic ideology. We are taught to see our divisions as right/left, liberal/conservative. The concepts of populist/capitalist or 1%/99% are not even on the table when considering our candidates - at least not according to this poll.

And I find this insulting and inane. Have their not been endless protests in the streets against greed and unregulated capitalism? Shouldn't these elements have been included in the identity mix?

Imagine our political system as being like a Hotel with one elevator that ran right up the center of the building. On each floor (economic level), you can find rooms (candidates) that are either found down the hallway to the left (liberal party) or down the hallway to the right (conservative party).

Selecting a candidate based solely on whether they sit to the left or to the right, is like searching for a room without thinking about what floor it's on. Rooms with a better view cost more. Top floor (candidates from the high end of the economic ladder) are comparable to a penthouse suite. Unless you are in that 1% group, don't expect to get a room.

The survey fails to ask on what economic level our candidates are located, or how these candidates "self identify." Do they think of themselves primarily as right/left? Where do they see themselves on a capitalist/populist scale? Do their actions while in office match the way they present themselves? Do we wonder whether is it possible for a candidate to be honestly populist when they live and breath penthouse air?

We have to augment our self identifies so that they incorporates elements outside the left/right two-party game. It's a NEW game (or an old game with new players), and there's an up/down element that those on the top floor don't want you to talk about...

Not because it's not relevant, but because it causes us to be thinker...and that's not how these Penthouse politicians want us to self identify.