Reflections of a Rational Republican

A recent New York Times/CBS News poll shows that 89 percent of Americans surveyed distrust government to do the right thing, and that 84 percent disapprove of Congress. Interestingly, only 46 percent disapprove of President Obama’s job performance, a potential wedge that the Democratic Party is likely to exploit in the upcoming presidential election. The poll’s results are a warning to the far right fringe that crazy is no longer a viable strategy.

Additionally, Democratic class warfare tactics appear to be working extremely well. 70% of respondents agreed with the assertion that Congressional Republican policies favor the rich. Roughly two-thirds also objected to tax cuts for corporations, even though America’s corporate tax rate is among the highest in the world. Another two-thirds favored the government increasing income taxes on millionaires.

The poll also showed the majority of respondents have fallen for the Democratic Party’s patently false assertion that Republicans have made no effort to pass jobs legislation. Seventy-one percent of respondents believe that Congressional Republicans do not have a clear plan for creating jobs; this is despite the fact that the House has passed 15 bills, all of which  are currently languishing in the Senate.

However, the poll also uncovered some more alarming findings — namely that two-thirds of those polled believe that wealth should be distributed “more evenly in this country”. This finding begs the question of whom they think should be in charge of this redistribution, particularly since so many of them distrust the government.

These poll findings showed sharp ideological divisions, with 90% of Democrats, two-thirds of independents, and just over one-third of Republicans agreeing that the distribution of wealth in the United States should be more balanced.

Expect America’s cognitive dissonance to increase as we head into the next election.