Two examples:
As such perceptions go those are very large changes, and it's worth noting that voters who self-identify as Democrats, Republicans and "Independents" have all experienced this shift.
Posted on 09/28/2007 8:19:31 PM PDT by M. Dodge Thomas
Over the past two decades, a growing share of the public has come to the view that American society is divided into two groups, the "haves" and the "have-nots." Today, Americans are split evenly on the two-class question with as many saying the country is divided along economic lines as say this is not the case (48% each). In sharp contrast, in 1988, 71% rejected this notion, while just 26% saw a divided nation.
Of equal importance, the number of Americans who see themselves among the "have-nots" of society has doubled over the past two decades, from 17% in 1988 to 34% today. In 1988, far more Americans said that, if they had to choose, they probably were among the "haves" (59%) than the "have-nots" (17%). Today, this gap is far narrower (45% "haves" vs. 34% "have-nots")...
(Excerpt) Read more at pewresearch.org ...
Two examples:
As such perceptions go those are very large changes, and it's worth noting that voters who self-identify as Democrats, Republicans and "Independents" have all experienced this shift.
How much do you have to not have to be a have not? And how much do you have to have to be a have? And while we’re at it, how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Gee, I am so surprised.
Why are people becoming so damned cynical in this country? Is it the media? Immigration? The fact that the stupid generally outbreed the smart?
Well, that's exactly the question this poll raises.
Objectively, based on median incomes, Americans are slightly better off than 20 years ago. And you can argue that even if their income is constant dollars has not improved for two decades, that income buys a higher quality-of-life; better consumer goods, advances in medical care, and the like.
So why do people increasingly feel this way?
My guess is that in part it's because average Americans are increasingly pessimistic when evaluating their expected future quality of life, and that of their children.
For example a couple earning the median income and fortunate enough to be nearing retirement with their children's college expenses behind them with 150-200K in savings and 400K equity in their house are increasingly concerned that the costs of medical and "elder-care" expenses amount to a potential 100% "inheritance tax" on everything they have accumulated, and that they they may have little or nothing to pass on to their children. Meanwhile, they know that someone with a net worth of a few million dollars can be reasonably certain that they can cover such costs and still pass on something on to the next generation.
On this view, you can rationally see yourself as a "have" compared to the "have-nots" at the moment, but also as a "don't" have enough" in the future compared to what's needed to support yourself in retirement and/or pass wealth along to the next generation. IMO, "realistic" would be a better description that "cynical" for this understanding.
As for their children, now there is a really interesting paradox: according to this study younger people are the most likely to think of themselves as "haves", but other polls show that they are also the the age group that has most rapidly lost identification with the Republican party in the last few years.
IMO, conservatives need to think long and hard about why that's the case.
I have a pot to pee in.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.