Compare yourself to the people who represent you in Washington
When you look at the research, it’s hard to believe that the people at home actually voted for those who were sent to the nation’s capital to represent the voters’ interests. Polling shows 57% of the sample believe the party in power has an agenda that is too extreme. Put another way, 56% say Congress is to the left of them while 42% say it is to their right. And, 57% see the President as being more liberal than they are.
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These attitudes make for an interesting mid-term election. The movement to oust incumbents continues to garner supporters. Unemployment, while a big concern, is overshadowed by the bigger question of “where is the economy headed?” Slow recovery could be acceptable if there was an indication that someone in the federal government understood the plight of the people and had a plan to fix the problems. Instead, the government continues to throw good money after bad in a desperate effort to make something – anything – happen.
This failed strategy of out-of-control spending may please some special interest groups but does not cut it with the average citizen, particularly those 65+. This is apparent when taking an inside look at the recent Rasmussen study mentioned above. This shows 62% of New Seniors believe Congress is too extreme, 5 points higher than the average. Greater differences were reported for Congress being more liberal at 64%, a difference of 8 points, and too conservative 34%, also a spread of 8 points from the norm. And, 65% of those 65+ thought the President to be more liberal than they are compared to 57% of the overall respondents.
New Seniors tend to be more conservative with age, but they have a different point-of-view regarding entitlements that affect them. They worked hard at their job, raised a family, provided them with food and housing, saved for the kids’ education and tried to still have enough for retirement without depending on a handout to get by. However, this group paid into Social Security, as did their employers and through taxes contributed to Medicare since its inception. So they have a right to demand what was promised them.
Now, inside maneuvering is quietly taking these benefits away or changing the way they are delivered. The two-year freeze on COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) is the first time this Social Security benefit has been stopped for a multi-year period. Has the government considered the fact that basic costs that are not part of the inflation index have increased and those on fixed incomes are left with less disposable dollars in their pockets? Medicare cuts, to the tune of $500 billion, are starting to be understood, and the result may well be fewer providers accepting the plan, longer waiting periods and lower quality care. None of these are acceptable, but it could be that all of them will apply in some way to all New Seniors.
There are many more reasons for those 65+ to have a disconnect with those in Washington. But one thing is clear, New Seniors are not happy and are expected to express their dissatisfaction at the polls in November.
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