What does "Middle America" want?

[Mr Khan]

Kasz216 said:

Mr Khan said:

My (partisan blinders off) take on the middle american's desires:
-They approve of the core tenets Welfare State, and would oppose plans to Privatize
-They support Welfare-to-Work, the idea that able-bodied welfare recipients should be moving towards employment, but that they should, at least, get it.
-They support certain tenets of the Affordable Care Act, namely the non-discrimination and "stay on insurance until 26" clauses. The core opposition to the ACA in middle america is against the individual mandate, the idea of being forced to buy something.
-Middle America believes in Separation of Church and State to the effect that they are religious, but don't really believe in having their faith interfered with by the state, nor having the state really push the agenda of their faith.
-Middle America wants something in-between the Libertarian and Dem-Rep plans for foreign policy: less engagement than we have currently, but not "no engagement."
-They don't really care about abortion or gay marriage, which is to say, they might have an opinion, but don't really care about forcing that opinion on others one way or another.

Seems ok.. though I think your missing out on a key dichotomy between the middle class... and missing out on some big distinctions.

 

1)  While the middle class is for welfare in general, they generally seem to have negative beleifs about welfare in work.  In general almost everyone has a story or knows someone who benefits off of welfare that others thing they shouldn't.

Additionally, nobody considers their own welfare as welfare.  For example, the union worker who gets laid off a week for plant shutdown and collects unemployment.   Such a thing they wouldn't even think of as welfare unless it is directly talked about as such.

As for privatisation... while they may be agaisnt full privatisation, i would say the middle class is for optional privitisation.   Espiecally those who are good with their money.  Those with retirement funds or pensions see their plans bringing way more in then social security and wonder why.  (As should everyone, why can't we run social security like every other country does... where they try and make a profit, instead of IOUs.)

 

2) Pretty much spot on about the ACA.  Though you missed the point as well that most people think it's going to increase the cost of healthcare... not decrease it.

 

3)  Seperation of Church and State.   I don't think anybody actually cares... I think most people might even lean towards "that seems excessive" in regards to things agaisnt their own religion, which is well christian.   For example, beign kind of mad their kids can't pray over a loudspeaker in school or something.

Though if like... suddenly another religion was slightly favored.... watch out.

4)  I think the middle class is primarily against ground troops.  Level of actual intervention across the world doesn't matter so long as boots on the ground aren't a factor.   The president can cruise missle, drone and bomb the hell ut of whoever they want.

 

5)  I think the middle class cares VERY HEAVILY about abortion.  At least... half of the middle class.  If anybody actually was convinced that Roe V Wade had a chance of being overturned it would be a HUGE issue.

Just nobody beleives there is a chance anyone would do it despite republican stances on abortion.  The nibbling around the edges, nobody cares about.

I agree nobody cares about gay people.

 

6) The middle class seems to care a LOT about the deficit, espiecally after the GFC has illustrated how much havoc debt can wreck in ones personal lives.  People look at the government now like they do their irresponsible friends who went bust.

The question, regarding number 6, is what does Middle America want to cut? I tend not to be the kind of person to say "the average voter is stupid" (skewed priorities in a lot of cases, but not stupid), but i do blame Middle America because they seem to want to have their cake and eat it too as regards deficits versus entitlements.