And this is why we laugh at them

[USA4ME]

EarlG

I'd like to facilitate a respectful discussion of recent poll numbers

Watching CNN just now, they reported some pretty bad news for Democrats in their latest poll. Here's the article:

CNN Poll: Most say government is doing too little to fix inflation and the supply chain

(snip)

All told, three-quarters say they are worried about the state of the economy in their own community (75%) and 63% say the nation's economy is in poor shape. Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) say that the economic news they've heard lately has been mostly bad, with just 19% saying they are hearing mostly good news about the economy right now.

Asked to rate the severity of seven issues affecting the economy recently, about 8 in 10 say the rising cost of food and other everyday items (80%), the disruption in the nation's supply chain (79%), and the rising cost of housing (77%) are major problems for the nation's economy. Seventy percent see the rising cost of gas as a major problem, and 67% each say labor shortages and government spending are major issues. A similar 65% call the coronavirus pandemic a major problem for the country's economy.

Few see President Joe Biden's policies as having a positive impact on economic conditions (30%), while nearly half (45%) say his policies have worsened the economy, and a quarter say they've had no impact. And 54% disapprove of the way he's handling the economy generally, up five points since late summer, with a matching 54% now disapproving of how he's handling helping the middle class.

The new poll finds roughly two-thirds (66%) have doubts and reservations about Biden's leadership, including 92% of Republicans, 75% of independents and 36% of Democrats. Still, Biden's overall approval holds about even at 49% approve to 51% disapprove. Those approval ratings are similar to recent polls from AP-NORC and Reuters/Ipsos.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/15/politics/cnn-poll-economy/index.html

I guess my question would be: if you think that something needs to be done to turn these numbers around, what advice would you give to Democratic leadership?

I suspect that quite a few folks here would like to talk about this topic, and I don't think there's any point putting our heads in the sand. I can't guarantee that this thread will be entirely respectful, but I thought that perhaps if I start the thread, you can at least discuss the issue at hand without focusing on the motives of the OP. (For the record, my motive is to allow people to have a respectful discussion of recent poll numbers.)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216147575

The answers have to be read at the source to be believed. Many excuses, trying to shift blame, and being unaware of the future of the current inflation issue. I read through what is currently 14 responses shaking my head and laughing. They have no clue what's happening right in front of them.

Also, an added bonus that the owner of the site has to quantify their own post in case one or more of his knuckle-dragging dimwits questions his motives.

.

[67 Rover]

Still, Biden's overall approval holds about even at 49% approve to 51% disapprove. Those approval ratings are similar to recent polls from AP-NORC and Reuters/Ipsos.

Leave it to the head DUmmie to pick the outliers. 

[SVPete]

EarlG

I'd like to facilitate a respectful discussion of recent poll numbers
...
I guess my question would be: if you think that something needs to be done to turn these numbers around, what advice would you give to Democratic leadership?

I suspect that quite a few folks here would like to talk about this topic, and I don't think there's any point putting our heads in the sand. I can't guarantee that this thread will be entirely respectful, but I thought that perhaps if I start the thread, you can at least discuss the issue at hand without focusing on the motives of the OP. (For the record, my motive is to allow people to have a respectful discussion of recent poll numbers.)

Who is EarlG kidding? If any Cave member were to join and attempt serious discussion they would be Alerted and MIRTed to Granite Pizza Valhalla within minutes.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Star Member jimfields33 (8,313 posts)

20. Every American is affected by the grocery store prices.

That is 90 percent of the reason for the poll numbers in my opinion. The president spoke with the gas companies and prices did go down some. I think he needs to speak with the grocery stores now. If prices don’t go down by summer. I don’t want to think about mid term results.

Star Member BeckyDem (6,685 posts)

3. The poll numbers would not be what they are if Dems passed BBB.

Both bills, infrastructure, and the safety net bill.

We all know why that has become difficult, and we must be honest with the public as to who is responsible for the delays and how we will remedy them.

That said, we also need to make abundantly clear that despite Dems difficulty within our ranks, it is important to show the American people that NOT ONE Republican will support BBB. Life will continue as it has been, dire and without hope for working people..per their own agenda.

Honestly, I could tell you all the things I disagree with about the Biden administration, but I don't find that helps most of the time.

When people see light at the end of the tunnel, they are more patient, imho.


Good thread, EarlG...thanks.

RAB910 (1,721 posts)

4. I think the key is apperance

Biden and the Dems need to take on this ugly topic. They need to do all in their power to address this issue (while putting the blame where it belongs on Trump). I think the biggest mistake to date is not talking enough about inflation. By not doing that, you allowing the GOP/right-wing propaganda machine to control the narrative

 

Haggard Celine (14,511 posts)

5. The prices are the main thing,

and it's pissing them off. The gas is one thing, but I think they're pissed about the food and rent most of all. And the extra money that's been going toward the food stamp program runs out this month. Starting next month, people will just get whatever the state decides to give, no extra federal money. That's going to hurt. Big banks have been buying up housing and jacking up rents, too, and that's outrageous. People were already paying too much. Congress had better get a deal going to expand the SNAP program to cover more people and load more money into it, and I don't know what they can do about rents, but some kind of creative solution needs to be employed there. People are hurting.

Star Member gab13by13 (6,045 posts)

6. My opinion,

this has been a concerted right wing effort to hurt president Biden. I don't believe the poll numbers, I don't believe the narrative in the MSM and on social media. The right controls and manages the MSM and it has been pushing the narrative for the past 2 months that president Biden is failing, I call bs on that narrative.

99% of people on DU have been programmed to believe a fence is a wall, propaganda works.

JMHO.

Star Member Yorkie Mom (16,049 posts)

7. Address the issues that many people (not extreme left or right) care about.

Rising crime rates - People want to feel secure in their home and town/city.

Immigration -We can't have completely open borders and be a country. (I'm not saying we do, but perception matters.)

RAB910 (1,721 posts)

9. One can tie immigration to inflation

the more Immigrants mean more people in the labor force which will keep salaries from skyrocketing

 

Star Member Roxi (2,105 posts)

8. From my own Twitter timeline...

I’m seeing a lot of frustration over student loan debt and the loss of the Child Tax Credit payments.

It’s a double whammy for struggling families. No more tax credits plus the resumption of student loan payments, all hitting right after the holidays.

People are angry. Democrats are supposed to be helping families, and this is being seen as a massive failure on Biden’s part.

There’s a lot of chatter saying Biden could sign an executive order and forgive all federal student debt. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I’m sure that statement is going to start being posted everywhere as we get closer to January, when payments start coming out of people’s checking accounts.

I don’t have a solution in mind. I’m merely reporting what I’ve been seeing in my limited experience on Twitter right now.

I really hope something changes soon. I do not want us to lose any more elections.

Star Member Tomconroy (3,345 posts)

10. I know everyone hates Chuck Todd but a long time ago he

said the Biden administration's success depended on Covid. I think he's right.

Star Member world wide wally (20,418 posts)

13. Thanks, Manchin

kentuck (103,742 posts)

14. Hopefully it is a temporary problem...

Luckily, wages are up and the economic situation is much better than it was a year ago.

Unfortunately, the Republicans are very good blaming others for any bad news.

The polls probably should not be taken too seriously at this time. If the inflation is still high and the economy slumps in the early spring, then there may be cause for concern.

Too early to put much faith in the poll numbers at this time, in my opinion.

Star Member NewHendoLib (55,650 posts)

15. Hi EarlG - and all! - thanks for starting this important discussion.

Here's the thing with polling these days - it is simply a reflection of what many voters (who are not as deeply involved with politics) are told - either by the media, their churches, their friends - and the politicians who are so skilled at using/understanding the mechanism of propaganda.

Main example to illustrate this - TFG and his minions repeatedly cry "the election was stolen - there was massive voter fraud". The false equivalence (or outright right wing controlled) media plays these lies again and again and again and they become embedded.

Then polling happens - and of course the responses exactly mirror the message that they were repeatedly exposed to.

To simplify - TFG "the election was stolen" again and again. Media keeps playing it. Voters are asked "was the election stolen" by pollsters - and of course they say yes - then TFG says "I told you the election was stollen - the polls prove it".

Take the above example and replay it again and again with all of the various issues around the economy, COVID, you name it. Due to propaganda and immersion of so many into it, polling answers will directly reflect what those polled are told.

As to what we can do about it - that is very difficult, because the right wing has a huge advantage in print, radio and TV media. People like us here at DU delve far more deeply into politics than most Americans - who are happy to be told what to believe and what to think.

Without some equalization of the media playing field, it is hard to see this improving. Most of the issues EarlG mentioned as poling results are not black and white, simple issues - they are nuanced and need depth to fully explain. This is what Democrats try to do - explain, but it works against us because most people want simple memes.

I simply don't know how Democrats can do effective messaging that reaches the people they need to under the current media climate, and polarization of the country. For many, "owning the libs" drives their lives, their acts - even to the point of suicide (the no-vax types) or murder (the right wing politicians supporting not vaxxing).

I will end with a few of what I think are important links to further play out where we are - both are NYT and probably paywalled - but they are important so I am putting the links here.

This is to a book that explains what our future may be as a species https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/books/review/a-natural-history-of-the-future-rob-dunn.html

This is an Op Ed that talks about the state of our Democracy in light of the polarization https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/15/opinion/republicans-democracy-minority-rule.html

 

Star Member WarGamer (3,215 posts)

21. I don't think much can be done.

POTUS gets the blame or credit for the economy no matter what.

Here's what the POTUS and Congress CAN DO:

Things that HELP people, like another freeze of Student Loans, Another $1800 stimulus, increasing SS benefits and NOT 2% a year.

A few rational posts, but wow do these people need help!!!

[DLR Pyro]

Star Member gab13by13 (6,045 posts)

6. My opinion,

this has been a concerted right wing effort to hurt president Biden.

the "Trump colluded with Russia" fairy tale, the mueller investigation and 2 shampeachments say hello

[67 Rover]

 

 

A few rational posts, but wow do these people need help!!!

They are not interested in help they want another handout. 

[USA4ME]

24 posts so far to the owner of the site (   Owner can only get 24 responses in 4 hours!!) from the self-proclaimed smartest people on the planet about the one topic they find to be the most important (after the 1/6 nonsense), and the only answers are "pass BBB", "take inflation head on by talking about dinner table issues that effect everyone," and "fix Covid". And those answers were given by maybe 4 of them total. The rest didn't answer the question at all. Just like the WH, they got no clue.

Does anyone on the island have the nerve to inform them that when inflation starts pounding this economy full bore, even the barely noticeable few who currently care about 1/6 will become significantly fewer?

BTW Ralph, thanks for bringing some of the comments over. 

.

[Delmar]

Response to EarlG (Original post)Wed Dec 15, 2021, 01:51 PM
Star Member Patton French (315 posts)
16. The inflation is real and the causes are multifaceted.

As far as addressing it, BBB is a great starting point.

BBB aint happening.  Democrats should be grateful that conservatives are blocking this disaster that would sink democrat approval even further, if that's possible.  A great example of democrats voting against their own best interests. 

You're welcome, dummies!

[Old n Grumpy]

I guess my question would be: if you think that something needs to be done to turn these numbers around, what advice would you give to Democratic leadership?

hara-kiri

[DUmpDiver]

Roisin Ni Fiachra (1,846 posts)

60. Regulate and control the fossil fuel industry, so that they can't use their power

to manipulate the economy.

If they don't like what a POTUS is doing, they simply raise the cost of fuel, in order to make that POTUS as unpopular as they can.

The cost of most goods and services is directly proportional to the cost of transportation. The fossil fuel industry has way too much power, and they have the ways and means to eliminate anyone or anything that stands in their way. They are an immediate threat and clear and present danger to national security, and should be dealt with as such.

Because the fossil fuel industry can be controlled and regulated by Congress or POTUS?

It's a good thing that oil and gas aren't international commodities. Their prices are set based on what a few executives at Exxon and Chevron think of Joe Biden.

National security, you say? Biden has threatened that by reducing our energy independence that Trump worked so hard to achieve.

[DLR Pyro]

Roisin Ni Fiachra (1,846 posts)

60. Regulate and control the fossil fuel industry, so that they can't use their power

to manipulate the economy.

If they don't like what a POTUS is doing, they simply raise the cost of fuel, in order to make that POTUS as unpopular as they can.

which is perfectly fine with you mouth breathers when the POTUS isn't a D

[SVPete]

They believe an economy should be gooberment-controlled, so when things go awry from their POV, it must be due to because of some conspiratorial group.