Krugman: (Democrats) Wobbled by Wealth?

-----

Longer-term studies of public opinion suggest a substantial leftward shift. James Stimson, a political scientist who uses data from many polls to construct an index of the overall liberalism or conservatism of the electorate, finds that America is now more liberal than it has been since the early 1960s. And the tactics the right has historically used to distract voters from economic issues, above all the exploitation of racial tensions, have been losing their effectiveness.

But the Democracy Corps memo warns that “Democrats have not yet found their voice as agents of change.” Indeed. What the memo doesn’t say, but is all too obvious, is that one big reason the Democrats are having trouble finding their voice is the influence of big money.

The most conspicuous example of this influence right now is the way Senate Democrats are dithering over whether to close the hedge fund tax loophole — which allows executives at private equity firms and hedge funds to pay a tax rate of only 15 percent on most of their income.

Only a handful of very wealthy people benefit from this loophole, while closing the loophole would yield billions of dollars each year in revenue. Retrieving this revenue is a key ingredient in legislation approved by the House Ways and Means Committee to reform the alternative minimum tax, something that must be done to avoid a de facto tax increase for millions of middle-class Americans

A handful of superwealthy hedge fund managers versus millions of middle-class Americans — it sounds like a no-brainer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/opinion/05krugman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

I'm familiar with Jim Stimson's work; he used to do a lot of work on racial politics, as Krugman mentions. The problem with creating indexes of liberalism and conservatism is not that the political scientists don't count a lot of issues to be put into the index, but that they aren't weighed according to their importance to the electorate. Thus typically, attitudes on a new dog license law would carry as much weight in the index as an attitude towards abortion, which even a layman can't possibly be correct.

Unfortunately, what Krugman missed is that while voters may indeed have liberal or populist economic stances, these don't account for much in their voting calculus. They are much more concerned with social issues, like gay marriage, abortion, and gun rights, where they tend to be much more conservative. Thus, the Republicans in fact do have the winning formula in place. They did indeed drop some of the focus on race-based issues, but substituted other social issues in their place. Sorry Mr.Krugman, I'd like to see more liberal voting too, but as long as the public views stupid social issues as more salient, they'll keep voting in Republicans.

at using a "dark populism" , going very passionate and emotional
the last week of the campaign. They pick one issue on which they know
they manipulate the public and go at it 24/7. In Ohio last Pres. Election
people were convinced they had to get to the polls to save civilization.
In other words, the Amish boarded their horses, buggies and came in
to save the world from Same Sex Marriage.

With all the Pressing Issues facing this coutry, War, Economy, Loss of
Middle Class-----JUST WAIT. Because the Democrats are so feckless,
and out of touch, the GOP may clean their clocks this election
using Immigration as the Wedge.

The Democrats always wait around being cautious. The GOP are already
running their campaign on Immigration.

Krugman is right in the sense that Democrats will not make economic
issues front and center. The DLC/Blue Dogs hold similar Economic
Beliefs as GOP. Mention taxes and Democrats scatter not to be found.
They will not explore and explain how Economic Conservatism has brought
our Economy to its present sad state . After all they are conservatives.
Look under their desks and get a comment if you can.

as all the fault of 'illegal aliens' and somehow weave Hedge Funds and ATM taxes as saving the economy from the onslaught of those "illegals."

There was a Democratic Poll posted here last week that showed "Immigration" at the top of peoples concerns. We know what the Rovian Repugs can do with that one. They are always sucessful in the 'blame game' and 'politics of hate.'

All those Lakoff "Framing Workshops" that Harry Reid supposedly had the Dems sign up for don't seem to have influenced anything there in DC. If Dems haven't learned to FRAME ISSUES by now it means they never wanted to in the first place.

"Americans are much more conservative on gay marriage, abortion".

This couldn't be more wrong. Americans are MUCH more liberal than we are being represented in Congress. 70% or so want Roe v. Wade left alone, yet it is under siege. more than 60% want health care for everyone in the country, yet it's not even under discussion. 70% are willing to pay more taxes to provide health insurance, yet we get lower taxes and less health care. the 20% or so who are gaining from the ultra-right-wing policies have the other 80% under their collective thumb.

The passage of NAFTA and GATT have decimated the industrial working class in the U.S., traditional supporters of Democrats. They have been cynicalized and resigned to a system that is not recognizing their needs. That is a direct result of who is funding campaigns and why.