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What the Election Didn't Tell Us
November 22,2006The media is consumed with what the recent election means for America. Pundits far more eloquent than we are have weighed-in on the topic. Suffice it to say PurpleThinkers aren’t much impressed with the new crop of elitist rhetoric in Washington. Perhaps its better to examine what the election didn’t tell us.
1) The elections did not tell us Democrats are in favor. The approval rating for congressional Democrats hovers at a 4-year low – not much higher than congressional Republicans. The shift in power does not come with a mandate. Democrats swept to power under the auspice of anti-Bush, anti-war, and anti-scandal themes.
2) The elections did not tell us Americans are ready for more government intervention. If anything, elections told us quite the opposite. States voted to strictly control imminent domain abuse. Most Democrats campaigned against government action in the war and in warrant less eavesdropping. This proved to be a strong message that allowed Democrats to avoid messages of increased social welfare and protectionism. Democrats did campaign to repeal tax cuts for the rich, but Republicans were unsuccessful in characterizing these as tax increases (wording is everything).
3) The elections did not tell us Christian conservatism is dead. Counter to what Newsweek and others have reported, Christian conservatives are still around in large numbers. Gay marriage bans won big and abortion is as divisive a campaign issue as ever. So, where did all the Christians go when electing people and not issues? They certainly didn’t vote for morally bankrupt Republicans, but that doesn’t mean they supported Democrats.
4) The elections did not tell us fiscal conservatism is dead. Reagan once vetoed a bill because it had over 200 earmarks; Bush signed a bill with nearly 2000. Savvy voters are livid that both parties appear willing to bankrupt the treasury if it means their states and districts are enriched -- all at the expense of our mutual future.
The elections did not tell us, well, anything substantive. Try as they might, the media cannot manufacture a story much beyond the obvious. Americans gave power to the Democrats and clearly registered their disdain for those in power. However, to say anything else has changed with American attitudes would be a stretch.
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