I'm curious. Because now we have the much-vaunted Romney comeback, but much of it seems entirely predicated upon the fact that he now suddenly appears... competent, which wasn't really there before the first debate. But this thread isn't about bashing any candidate, but rather the fact that Romney's recovery really isn't based on substance, on particular approval for Romney's plan (which still isn't especially solid), but more on disapproval of Obama. Indeed, Obama's momentum thus far is merely run by the fact that America knows the Republican alternative from the Tea Party Congress and has resoundingly disapproved of it. Indeed, one could go back and look at Obama's triumph, and the Democratic triumphs of 2006 before, were merely based on resounding disapproval against Bush.

So its clear that the swinging middle-american voter really doesn't like the dogma of either party, so what do they like?

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.

What do you lot think? What sort of plan would the average American go for?

Try to be objective, folks. If i can do it, you can do it

Free porn for those making under 250K a year.

How about reduce the deficit and improve the economy besides being a bitch to the federal reserve? Oh wait no one can do that besides a few. The tough choices leave very few that would actually have the balls to do it. The ones with the balls will never be elected.

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.

I suppose another more succinct way for me to put it is that I think the middle class generally holds some mild disdain towards a lot of the poor, and mild distrust towards most of the rich.

Generally thinking most poor people could be where they were if they worked harder, and most rich people must of cheated or had an unfair advantage because they worked really hard and don't have as much money as the rich people who have "boss jobs" that don't seem like hard work.

All policies are generally based off that... or how something effects them.

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.

Waste...

I think the middle class generally looks at people on welfare who "game the system",   $600,000 ash trays for submarines,  50,000 toileat seats and believe there is enough systematic waste that can clear the government budget sheet well.

Combined with the elimination of various rich people and company deductions.  I don't think they so much favor tax increases, but are for all kinds of crazy often times made up tax deductions that various people think the rich have.  

Like how somehow if you donate money to charity you pay less in combined charity+taxes then you would of in just taxes, because they don't know how the graduating levels tax system works because they often have botique tax accountants/just don't understand how charity deductions work because they haven't donated that much.

i don't know about the usa but i guess the middle class will care about what they can afford and can't afford as an income and govt/society because one thing is for certain our standards of living are going to become more expensive,it will be interesting to see what the middle class deems important in the times that are coming and where the votes will go,for example in the UK i think the established 3 parties will get less of the vote with different parties benefiting,not sure how it will occur in the states though with your system

Are there really examples of this kind of waste in the government or is this just an old exageration that has been picked up as the truth?  I hear this all the time, but I have never actually seen any kind of news about this other than the $20 muffin dispute a year or so ago and even that was an exageration for political reasons.  

all the above and more money. higher rate of pay for starters. and just balance, not having things one way and thats it. but everything.