Balancing Political Lessons
Watching Gov. McDonnell give the response to the SOTU address made me laugh. It was the latest test setting for the Republican party as they search for the next face to hang their platform on rather than doing some serious reform of their brand. (BTW, the Tea Part is not reform). It has always puzzled me why those that overtly prop up corporate America have such success convincing poor working persons, traditionally poor or the working poor whites, to vote against their best interest. This article from the BBC gave me more to think about.
Why Do People Vote Against Their Own Interests?
The Republicans’ shock victory in the election for the US Senate seat in Massachusetts meant the Democrats lost their supermajority in the Senate. This makes it even harder for the Obama administration to get healthcare reform passed in the US.
Political scientist Dr David Runciman looks at why is there often such deep opposition to reforms that appear to be of obvious benefit to voters.
Last year, in a series of “town-hall meetings” across the country, Americans got the chance to debate President Obama’s proposed healthcare reforms.
What happened was an explosion of rage and barely suppressed violence.
Polling evidence suggests that the numbers who think the reforms go too far are nearly matched by those who think they do not go far enough. Click here to read more.