Poll numbers show Democrats at disadvantage [View all]

[Savannahmann]

A few days ago I highlighted a problem that we were studiously ignoring. Both parties are ignoring this issue, and doing so with a determination that boggles the imagination. The problem was the 55 Million people who are out of work, and not counted because they were not actively seeking employment. They had given up, surrendered to the despair of the current economic circumstances.

Today, the Washington Post and ABC News released their most recent join poll results. They are abysmal for Democrats. The Republicans stand an excellent chance to keep the House. That's bad enough, but it is looking increasingly likely that the Republicans could pick up the six seats they need to sieze control of the Senate.

I'm going to exerpt a bit of the story.

A majority (56 percent) say that, based on personal experience, the economy has begun to recover. But only 18 percent say it is a strong recovery. Four in 10 call the recovery weak, and the rest say it has not begun.

Barely half the people think we are in a recovery. Fully 40% say it is a weak recovery. That is because we as a people are ignoring the 55 million people who are not employed, and aren't counted. Think about that my friends. We're talling 55 million people that they and their familes don't count.

Now people think we are better on some of the key issues, but we're not doing anything on those issues. President Obama is not talking about those 55 Million people who have given into despair. No one is talking about them. We are ignoring the issues that matter, and while people think we would vote on fixes, if we ever got around to a vote, we aren't pounding the table and the people notice.

People look at Washington. All the Democratic Politicians say is that it is the Republicans fault. All the Republicans say is that it is the Democrats fault. Nobody is talking about issues. We are asking people to get to the polls and vote against Republicans. They did that in 2006, 2008, and 2012. They're aren't going to turn out and vote against a party forever. It's past time that we stood for something other than the Republicans are bad.

Neither party is showing any leadership. And that is what the people desperately want. They don't want endless speeches on bandaid fixes to the huge problems. They want leadership, bold ideals. In eight months we go to the polls and cast our ballots. If we continue on the same path, we are going to find ourselves in the minority in both houses of Congress. Then my friends, the problems really begin. Because then the view of who is obstructionist will change dramatically. Congress will pass legislation, and President Obama will veto it. Democrats will be seen as obstructionist.

So any bets on if we tackle the tough problems? Anyone want to guess if Democrats put forward plans on the issues that matter to the people? Personally, I don't think so. I think Democrats are going to continue bleeting about the band aids like that's all the nation, it's all the economy needs. I think we're going to ignore the problems until it is too late. I think we're going to keep sounding the trumpets as the unemployment numbers keep going down from people giving up and no longer being counted. I think we're going to ignore privacy and resist reigning in the Government Perverts grabbing screen shots of teenaged girls dressing in their rooms from hotwired webcams. I think we're going to ignore out of control police and let more people be victimized by the authorities. Because if we notice the problem, and start talking about it, we might have to admit that things are not as awesome as we pretend they are, and that would me we have to work. It's just easier to say it's all the Republicans fault.