Bacon's Rebellion

Bread-and-Butter Issues Predominate

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by

James A. Bacon
in

Here comes a new Mason-Dixon poll confirming the findings of earlier polls: The issues that matter to voters are the ones that impact their daily lives — not cultural wedge issues. The most important issues in this year’s governor’s race, as summarized in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch:

21 % – education issues/public schools funding
17 % – state taxes/state spending
15 % – roads/traffic/transportation
8 % – economy/jobs/economic growth
7 % – crime/death penalty/criminal justice
6 % – leadership/character/personal qualities
5 % – moral issues/family values

One final plea: Would the gubernatorial candidates please focus their speeches, press releases and, above all, their campaign ads on the issues that matter to the electorate?

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  1. Ross Avatar
    Ross

    Seriously, who gets polled in these things? I’ve never been polled. Do you have to own a land line and not be on the do-not-call list to be called?

    I don’t know a single person in their mid twenties who has a land line phone.

    Not that I disagree with the survey results, I’m just saying.

  2. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Many polls start with telephone numbers that are randomly generated, and that would pick up unlisted numbers and households with no land lines. Being unlisted won’t stop those calls, and polls aren’t blocked by the do not call list. But I suspect there are some built problems being created by the new phone patterns. People who go to that much trouble to stay disconnected are going to vote much, are they?

    Jim: you glossed over the most amazing thing in the poll, the lack of voter passion over the 2004 tax bill, with a surpising percentage saying “what tax increase?” and another big block considering it “necessary.” The number of voters — and that is a poll of voters — upset was even smaller than I thought.

  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    That, that’d work great Jim. Kaine could just talk about education and bread and butter issues like he tried to, and meanwhile Kilgore could merrily paint him as satanic. I’m sure not acknowledging that or spending time responding to it wouldn’t be political suicide or anything.

    Bottom line: what people say matters to them in polls is what they’d LIKE to think they, such highminded citizens they, care about. But in the end, the only issue that really seems to matter to undecided voters is some vauge ideas about character. The specifics of their education plan? Come on.

  4. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    One man’s bread and butter is another’s meaningless crap.

  5. SouthoftheJames.com Avatar
    SouthoftheJames.com

    Jim, you’re totally right. This campaign is going nowhwere. Thus, I will attempt to respond for the candidates.

    Education – Tim Kaine supports kindergarten for 4 year olds. The concept of kindergarten started in Germany, and Adolf Hitler was a kindergartener. Thus, Tim Kaine supports educating Hitler.

    Transportation – Tim Kaine wants more money for roads and other projects. Adolf Hitler pioneered the ambitious road construction of the Autobahn system and he promoted Volkswagens as a way to get more Germans driving. Thus, Tim Kaine would even let Hitler drive.

    Estate Taxes – Jerry Kilgore wants to end the estate tax to give people more of their inheritance. Hitler received a large inheritance from his father, allowing him to live comfortably for a few years. A higher death tax would’ve reduced that money. Thus, Jerry Kilgore wants to put more cash in Hitler’s pockets.

    Jobs/Economy – Tim Kaine supports more homeless shelters and job training. Hitler was an out-of-work painter who lived in a homeless shelther for a while. Bread & Butter was likely served at the shelter. Thus, Tim Kaine would give Hitler job training and three hots and a cot.

    Sum:
    Tim Kaine = 3 pro-Hitler plans
    Jerry Kilgore = 1 pro-Hitler plan

    Vote Kilgore – he’s tougher on Hitler!

    — Conaway

  6. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Let’s not forget that, like Kilgore, Hitler was pro-death penalty and tough on anyone that thought the DP system was too indescriminate or biased in its application.

  7. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I have resigned myself to the fact that Kilgore will win, and that barring some kind of brain transplant surgery before his coronation in Williamsburg, will immediately start spending all of the surplus on programs that will never go away while concurrently mandating new programs on local government AND attempting to limit their ability to generate local revenues to pay for said programs. Yes, it’s a mouthful but unfortunately I think it will be the case.

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