Is the frame "Income Inequality" gonna fly?

[NobleSavage]

I'm not sure the Dems are gonna do themselves any favors pushing income inequality or class warfare.

Here are the gallop numbers http://www.gallup.com/poll/1675/most-important-problem.aspx

The gap between the rich and poor is only important to 3%, up from 2%.

Can this dog hunt?

 

[AthenaAwakened]

I'm not sure the Dems are gonna do themselves any favors pushing income inequality or class warfare.

Here are the gallop numbers http://www.gallup.com/poll/1675/most-important-problem.aspx

The gap between the rich and poor is only important to 3%, up from 2%.

Can this dog hunt?

It already is

As the Washington political mill began churning in January, one potential presidential candidate issued a missive that took on the issue of income inequality with particular eloquence. “Millions of our fellow citizens across the broad middle class feel as if the American Dream is now out of their reach,” it said, “that our politics are petty and broken; that opportunities are elusive; and that the playing field is no longer fair or level.”

It wasn't an excerpt from progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren's book or a pitch from Vice President Joe Biden for a middle-class tax break. It was part of a manifesto on the website of Right to Rise, the political-action committee formed by Republican Jeb Bush.

With wages stagnant, concern about wealth distribution increasing, and the president embarking on an aggressive push for the middle class, Republicans aren't just talking about lower taxes and a rising tide lifting all boats. They are making their pitch explicit, with a little help from Democratic rhetoric. They're the right ones to tackle income inequality, they argue, and they won't be afraid to say it

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/a...publicans-are-talking-about-income-inequality

 

[arkirk]

It already is

As the Washington political mill began churning in January, one potential presidential candidate issued a missive that took on the issue of income inequality with particular eloquence. “Millions of our fellow citizens across the broad middle class feel as if the American Dream is now out of their reach,” it said, “that our politics are petty and broken; that opportunities are elusive; and that the playing field is no longer fair or level.”

It wasn't an excerpt from progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren's book or a pitch from Vice President Joe Biden for a middle-class tax break. It was part of a manifesto on the website of Right to Rise, the political-action committee formed by Republican Jeb Bush.

With wages stagnant, concern about wealth distribution increasing, and the president embarking on an aggressive push for the middle class, Republicans aren't just talking about lower taxes and a rising tide lifting all boats. They are making their pitch explicit, with a little help from Democratic rhetoric. They're the right ones to tackle income inequality, they argue, and they won't be afraid to say it

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/a...publicans-are-talking-about-income-inequality

It should make a difference depending on who is being polled. The poll is meaningless without a breakdown on the incomes of those who were polled.

 

[NobleSavage]

It already is

As the Washington political mill began churning in January, one potential presidential candidate issued a missive that took on the issue of income inequality with particular eloquence. “Millions of our fellow citizens across the broad middle class feel as if the American Dream is now out of their reach,” it said, “that our politics are petty and broken; that opportunities are elusive; and that the playing field is no longer fair or level.”

It wasn't an excerpt from progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren's book or a pitch from Vice President Joe Biden for a middle-class tax break. It was part of a manifesto on the website of Right to Rise, the political-action committee formed by Republican Jeb Bush.

With wages stagnant, concern about wealth distribution increasing, and the president embarking on an aggressive push for the middle class, Republicans aren't just talking about lower taxes and a rising tide lifting all boats. They are making their pitch explicit, with a little help from Democratic rhetoric. They're the right ones to tackle income inequality, they argue, and they won't be afraid to say it

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/a...publicans-are-talking-about-income-inequality

Nice find Athena. Will Jeb stick with it or morph it into born again trickle down? If I were a GOP strategist I'd re-spin Reaganomics.

 

[arkirk]

It already is



http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/a...publicans-are-talking-about-income-inequality

Nice find Athena. Will Jeb stick with it or morph it into born again trickle down? If I were a GOP strategist I'd re-spin Reaganomics.

You mean it is Morning again in America...and mourning again in Central and South America? It will be a cold day in hell when one of those folks stuck on the lower rungs of the ladder reach up and thankfully acknowledge Jeb's largess and how it showers down on them...oh Glory be! What absurdity!

 

[TV and credit cards]

When framed as a "most important problem", no. If it stood on it's own, it may get a bit more traction. Could also be that people like Elizabeth Warren have a much deeper understanding of the influence of the 1, .1, and .01% than your average middle class citizen. The mainstream media doesn't inform it's listeners as to the extent of the problem as it may be biting the advertising hand that feeds it.

 

[NobleSavage]

will be a cold day in hell when one of those folks stuck on the lower rungs of the ladder reach up and thankfully acknowledge Jeb's largess and how it showers down on them...oh Glory be! What absurdity!

When was the last time you were in a trailer park?

 

[AthenaAwakened]

When framed as a "most important problem", no. If it stood on it's own, it may get a bit more traction. Could also be that people like Elizabeth Warren have a much deeper understanding of the influence of the 1, .1, and .01% than your average middle class citizen. The mainstream media doesn't inform it's listeners as to the extent of the problem as it may be biting the advertising hand that feeds it.

OWS (Occupy Wall Street, lest we forget) did a lot of self destructive shit, but it did one thing better than any firm on Madison Ave. could have dreamed of doing and that was planting the meme in the public mind of "The 1%." Everybody understands the one percent. You don't need a college degree to get that you and the people around you are financially sinking and a small group of people have all the money and won't let it go.

 

[NobleSavage]

When framed as a "most important problem", no. If it stood on it's own, it may get a bit more traction. Could also be that people like Elizabeth Warren have a much deeper understanding of the influence of the 1, .1, and .01% than your average middle class citizen. The mainstream media doesn't inform it's listeners as to the extent of the problem as it may be biting the advertising hand that feeds it.

OWS (Occupy Wall Street, lest we forget) did a lot of self destructive shit, but it did one thing better than any firm on Madison Ave. could have dreamed of doing and that was planting the meme in the public mind of "The 1%." Everybody understands the one percent. You don't need a college degree to get that you and the people around you are financially sinking and a small group of people have all the money and won't let it go.

How is the 1% meme any different than "the rich" meme?

 

[untermensche]

I'm not sure the Dems are gonna do themselves any favors pushing income inequality or class warfare.

If they actually proposed methods to deal with it that would be one thing.

If it is just a bunch of empty rhetoric to get elected that is another.

Mostly it is just the latter.

 

[NobleSavage]

I'm not sure the Dems are gonna do themselves any favors pushing income inequality or class warfare.

If they actually proposed methods to deal with it that would be one thing.

If it is just a bunch of empty rhetoric to get elected that is another.

Mostly it is just the latter.

This thread is about campaign strategy, let's leave it at that.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

OWS (Occupy Wall Street, lest we forget) did a lot of self destructive shit, but it did one thing better than any firm on Madison Ave. could have dreamed of doing and that was planting the meme in the public mind of "The 1%." Everybody understands the one percent. You don't need a college degree to get that you and the people around you are financially sinking and a small group of people have all the money and won't let it go.

How is the 1% meme any different than "the rich" meme?

"The Rich" could be anyone from your uncle Frank to Richie Rich in comic books.

The One Percent are the people who own 50% of everything, (or whatever percent people feel like believing on that day). It is more specific than rich, it brings math into it so it sounds smarter, it paints a Dickensian picture of America antithetical to the American Dream so it instantly inspires loathing. Everybody wants to be rich but nobody wants to be the One Percent. Look at the reactions of people in the One Percent. "Oh no, we aren't the problem. We are just like you. It's the .1%, the .01%. Those are the bad guys. Let's all get them!"

I'm telling you, that A I got on my Marketing project in college would have been a lot easier if I had come up with "The 1%." Its simplicity, its elegance, its ease of acceptance and the rapidity with which it spread not to mention its staying power. It's an adman's wet dream.

 

[untermensche]

If they actually proposed methods to deal with it that would be one thing.

If it is just a bunch of empty rhetoric to get elected that is another.

Mostly it is just the latter.

This thread is about campaign strategy, let's leave it at that.

So was my post.

If Democrats actually had real proposals and worked to get them enacted that would be a better campaign strategy for all Democrats.

But empty rhetoric on issues like this will gain them very little.

People are not as stupid as American politicians think. That is why half of them don't even vote.

 

[Cobalt]

How is the 1% meme any different than "the rich" meme?

"The Rich" could be anyone from your uncle Frank to Richie Rich in comic books.

The One Percent are the people who own 50% of everything, (or whatever percent people feel like believing on that day). It is more specific than rich, it brings math into it so it sounds smarter, it paints a Dickensian picture of America antithetical to the American Dream so it instantly inspires loathing. Everybody wants to be rich but nobody wants to be the One Percent. Look at the reactions of people in the One Percent. "Oh no, we aren't the problem. We are just like you. It's the .1%, the .01%. Those are the bad guys. Let's all get them!"

I'm telling you, that A I got on my Marketing project in college would have been a lot easier if I had come up with "The 1%." Its simplicity, its elegance, its ease of acceptance and the rapidity with which it spread not to mention its staying power. It's an adman's wet dream.

I was not a devotee of the OWS movement, due to the self-limiting or self-destructive actions as I saw them, but I strongly agree here. The 1% meme is quite effective. That was well done.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

How is the 1% meme any different than "the rich" meme?

It implies a detached aristocracy. The people who pull the strings.

 

[NobleSavage]

"The Rich" could be anyone from your uncle Frank to Richie Rich in comic books.

The One Percent are the people who own 50% of everything, (or whatever percent people feel like believing on that day). It is more specific than rich, it brings math into it so it sounds smarter, it paints a Dickensian picture of America antithetical to the American Dream so it instantly inspires loathing. Everybody wants to be rich but nobody wants to be the One Percent. Look at the reactions of people in the One Percent. "Oh no, we aren't the problem. We are just like you. It's the .1%, the .01%. Those are the bad guys. Let's all get them!"

I'm telling you, that A I got on my Marketing project in college would have been a lot easier if I had come up with "The 1%." Its simplicity, its elegance, its ease of acceptance and the rapidity with which it spread not to mention its staying power. It's an adman's wet dream.

I was not a devotee of the OWS movement, due to the self-limiting or self-destructive actions as I saw them, but I strongly agree here. The 1% meme is quite effective. That was well done.

It implies a detached aristocracy. The people who pull the strings.

Ok, I agree.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

It already is



http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/a...publicans-are-talking-about-income-inequality

It should make a difference depending on who is being polled. The poll is meaningless without a breakdown on the incomes of those who were polled.

Just because you don't like what the poll says doesn't mean the pollsters are incompetent.

Besides, if anything such polls will under-represent the rich--they'll be unlikely to take the time to answer them.

 

[Canard DuJour]

I'm not sure the Dems are gonna do themselves any favors pushing income inequality or class warfare.

Here are the gallop numbers http://www.gallup.com/poll/1675/most-important-problem.aspx

The gap between the rich and poor is only important to 3%, up from 2%.

Can this dog hunt?

Could be the clincher.

Both parties will make similar noises about "Economy in general" and "Unemployment/Jobs", but different ones about "Gap between rich and poor" and "Taxes". According to the poll, only 1% think "Taxes" is the most important issue. And the 2 or 3 times that many who think "Gap between rich and poor" is the most important issue probably don't think "Wage issues" or "Lack of money" are separate issues.

In fact the Republicans will likely try jumping on the "Gap between rich and poor" bandwagon. They'll try framing the issue as one of not enough "free market" and push for more deregulation, privatisation etc, but I doubt many Americans will buy it just now.

Both parties will make somewhat similar noises about "Federal budget deficit/Federal debt", with Republicans pushing the meme that the issue is public sector spending and solved by austerity - which does have intuitive appeal to voters with short attention spans.

 

[dismal]

Look at all the seats the Democrats have picked up since OWS started.

Must be doing something right.

 

[AthenaAwakened]

Let us not confuse concern over income inequality and the Democratic party. Those are two separate things.