Poll: Half of Americans dont care which party controls Congress

[davidn3600]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Who cares which party controls Congress? Only about half of Americans. The other 46 percent, not so much, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll.

Ask people whom they would rather see in charge on Capitol Hill, and Republicans finish in a dead heat with "doesn't matter."

Democrats fare only a little better: 37 percent would prefer their leadership, compared with 31 percent each for the GOP and whatever.

"I've never really noticed any difference in my life depending on which party is in," said Bob Augusto, 39, an oil refinery worker in Woodstown, New Jersey. He doesn't expect to vote in this fall's midterm election.

http://news.yahoo.com/meh-nearly-half-dont-care-controls-congress-070714518--election.html

And this is why turnout for mid-term elections is dismal. People just don't seem to think it makes any difference.

[napi21]

1. We HAVE to explain to people how Congress affects THEM!

Norm Goldman was talking about this with a caller from Washington on his show today. The caller wanted to know how she could better word things to be more successful convincing people to vote. She's running a campaign in her State. When she mentioned college students, Norm told her to talk to them about the cost of student loans and how much influence congress has over student loan interest rates. He also suggested talking to the employees at McDonalds who likely don't realize that it's CONGRESS that increases minimum wage, OK's unemployment benefits, establishes child credits etc. All the things that affect THEM!

My husband used to think that it didn't matter who was elected to any office, national or local, because he didn't see how it affected him. It took me a while, but I got through to him, and he's turned into a good promoter with neighbors and relatives.

[Katashi_itto]

2. I like waffles.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I like waffles, but I like to pretend to remain in practice

[Katashi_itto]

11. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. This is because Americans have figured out that it really does not matter what they think

1.- We are indeed an oligarchy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10769041/The-US-is-an-oligarchy-study-concludes.html

2.- Gerrymandering means that more democrats will vote but Republicans control the House.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/18/politics/gerrymandering/

3.- Superpacs and money in politics

Now when this is brought up, you start to realize that people actually get it, it does not make a difference.

I still encourage people to vote, but only because they need to remain in practice for when it starts to matter. But real change will not come from the ballot box, and I know this is something our GOTV fans hate. We have been here before. People still voted the last time around, but they knew voting was not really up there in the priority list. And that was the 1880s

[VanillaRhapsody]

5. Yeah ask all those whose lives are being saved by Obamacares....if "it does not make a difference"

in fact ask Demo_chris...

[woo me with science]

13. We are indeed an oligarchy.

Yes.

[DemocraticWing]

6. There are a lot of cultural reasons at play here.

But perhaps the most understandable are problems with the electoral process. Let's face it: for the vast majority of voters anywhere in the world, they can only grapple with the changes in leadership between very general politicians and/or parties. They don't necessarily know much about their own representatives other than what party they are in, and most voters stick with their parties no matter what despite any general feeling of whether or not they're doing a good job.

When people think their party is disappointing them, they don't actually switch sides, they just stay home. There isn't a mass of swing voters out there, there are only a few. Elections are won among turnout, because the three groups of the American electorate are Democrats, Republicans, and People Who Don't Vote. The last of those groups are demographically and ideologically more sympathetic to our side, but the lack of real alternatives to conservatism often leaves them sitting at home. These are the people who came out for Obama and stayed home in 2010.

One thing I like about the British electoral system is the tie between the parliamentary elections and the head of government selection. People essentially just make one choice every few years: between the candidates of various Parties contesting their district. Yes there are local elections, European elections, and so on, but the main choice on how the government is run is both legislatively and in the executive is tied to which party you prefer in your own constituency's election.

[Art_from_Ark]

7. As someone who lives in a parliamentary system,

I don't see any particular benefit to it. There are lots of splinter parties, and the parties on the left are particularly splintered. The left just can't hold together long enough to become a viable, cohesive force that can take and hold the reins of government. And the strongest (=conservative) party, with its coalition allies, can call for an election when they feel they have the best chance of winning. The prime minister is selected in a backroom deal from among the members of the party that has the majority (or plurality in a coalition) in the Lower House. So if you like your Lower House representative, but you don't like the guy in his party who is likely to become prime minister, what do you do?

Also, if the weaker (=left-wing) major party somehow cobbles together a coalition that can actually put it in power, it has to constantly appease its coalition members, especially those on the center-right, who can jump ship at a moment's notice, call for a Vote of No Confidence, and voila! The former ruling party is back in power.

[world wide wally]

8. How about if you get paid to vote? I'll bet that would increase turnout.

Maybe even a little rebate on your taxes or something.
I start the bidding at $5

[DontTreadOnMe]

9. lol.. that would work!

$5 Bill is all it would take. And a free cup of coffee.

[blkmusclmachine]

10. It would be helpful if we could see some sunshine between the 2 Parties.

[woo me with science]

12. Well, let's see:

Last edited Fri May 23, 2014, 09:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Mass spying on Americans? Both parties support it.
Handing the internet to corporations? Both parties support it.
Austerity for the masses? Both parties support it.
Cutting social safety nets? Both parties support it.
Corporatists in the cabinet? Both parties support it.
Tolling our interstate highways? Both parties support it.
Corporate education policy? Both parties support it.
Bank bailouts? Both parties support it.
Ignoring the trillions stashed overseas? Both parties support it.
Trans-Pacific Job/Wage Killing Secret Agreement? Both parties support it.
Drilling and fracking? Both parties support it.
Wars on medical marijuana instead of corrupt banks?
Deregulation of the food industry? Both parties support it.
GMO's? Both parties support it.
Militarized police and assaults on protesters? Both parties support it.
Indefinite detention? Both parties support it.
Drone wars and kill lists? Both parties support it.
Targeting of journalists and whistleblowers? Both parties support it.
Private prisons replacing public prisons? Both parties support it.
Unions? Both parties view them with contempt.

Perhaps the corporate-purchased parties themselves have something to do with this conclusion by the American people.


The record shows aggressive, proactive pursuit of a corporate agenda.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3202395