This weekend on Fox News I heard new Speaker of the House, John Boehner, state that Americans sent a clear message in November. The problem seems to be that Mr. Boehner doesn't understand the message that was sent. The results from this November's elections had everything to do with the economy and almost nothing to do with Health Care Reform or Republican ideas to reduce spending.
A recent Kaiser Foundation Poll shows that only 43% of Americans want to repeal or replace the Health Care Reform Act while 47% would like to see it stay as is or go further. This same poll also shows that 62% of Americans are against defunding the Health Care Reform legislation which is the Republicans only real means of changing the reform at this point.
Similarly 52% of Americans want to see cuts made to the largest item in the Federal Budget, Defense spending, yet Republicans refuse to put this option on the table when talking about cutting the deficit.
The point is Americans did not vote for Republican priorities. They voted against a bad economy. The same is true in Tunisia and Egypt. They are revolting against the current government due to the lack of jobs and the increased costs of food. The Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, has been in power since 1981. The only thing that has changed is his 3 decades of rule is the economic conditions. This is also true of the Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who first came to power in 1987.
Republicans should realize that November represents a vote for more jobs. Americans would support stimulus or investing if it led to jobs. They would also support cuts to spending if those cuts don't weaken the economy. By focusing on issues not relating to job creation Republicans are only holding the economic recovery back. The good news is that should put Republican jobs in danger in the next election.
Derek Anderson Fan says...
ReplyDeleteThat is an odd conclusion you're drawing that Egypt uprisings PROVE that Republicans are wrong? How does it prove that?
Aren't there many countries where jobs and food & commodity prices are rising that are not having popular revolts?
There are enormously complicated socio-political and socio-economical forces going on in Egypt and I wouldn't use it to make any conclusions about domestic politics.
That said, I agree that Republicans should not feel they have broad support for their economic (or social) policies... they don't. Polls continue to indicate as such.