Anybody think that "Misery Index" is a stupid name?

[liberalpragmatist]

I agree with the premises. It's a very promising strategy, but I have major reservations about the name. It's certainly attention-getting. But it's VERY hyperbolic. Almost laughably so. And while I agree that hyperbole is an integral part of any campaign, one has to be careful not to overdo it. I don't think that most middle-class swing voters are "miserable." They're just uneasy. So why not call it "uneasiness index" or "economic insecurity index"? Sure, none have the ear-catching nature of "misery index," but I fear that describing the middle class as "miserable," when delivered by a long-faced, serious man isn't really going to enthuse or rally anybody. Plus, many may just laugh at it. It may turn them off and make them less inclined to vote Kerry.

Anybody else agree or am I totally off base? If so, what else would you suggest?

[slinkerwink]

1. I think it's a stupid name too

[swag]

2. Arthur Okun, an advisor to LBJ is said to have coined the term

Reaganites revived the term leading up to the election of 1980. Can't remember who resurrected it the last time.

Kerry's definition is much more complex than the original unemployment+inflation formula. Kerry's MI is more like an index of current personal economic indicators.

[NewJerseyDem]

3. Yeah

It makes people feel worse than they are. The Kerry campaign has to be more optimistic if we are going to win. The democratic party can't just say the world sucks so vote for me. The misery index basically just says that.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. ON the other hand, giving it a cheerful name

might make the worst-off folks feel like they are not ebing taken seriously.

[MoonRiver]

5. Yes, its kind of histrionic.

I thought that from the moment I read it.

[BostonTeaParty04]

6. I take it you are not unemployed and a $4.00 gal of milk is no big deal?

Because being unemployed and looking at the price of food IS a miserable existence....

So, I disagree with you. I am on very limited funds right now, and you cannot believe how hard it is to shop for healthful food within a very tight budget. Milk? get it about once a month. Regular loaf of bread (almost $4.00 for orowheat!)... forget it, I buy the day-old sales bread.

So, yeah, it's about misery, esp when a person knows that he is not a bum and has a lot to contribute to society. But that same society has nothing in return.. or not much anyway.

[KissMyAsscroft]

7. Kerry supporters need to point out that Reagan used the term..

Or else it will be seen as something Kerry made up. I had never heard the term before today to tell you the truth and I didnt know reagan had ever used it.

I agree with the idea...Inflation doesn't accurately depict what Middle Class Americans face day to day...

[freeforall]

8. I think it's an unnecessarily negative term...

and I'm not sure middle-class people (no matter how much they're struggling)will like being portrayed as "miserable" or "in misery."

Would sure turn me off.

This doesn't sound very "visionary" to me.