Polling data

[barfo]

I don't want to be like certain other posters I could name who post polling data only when it favors their particular point of view, so here is a poll I ran across tonight...

barfo

 

[Minstrel]

I don't want to be like certain other posters I could name who post polling data only when it favors their particular point of view, so here is a poll I ran across tonight...

I dislike 538.com's methodology.

Charts about libertarianism need to come in diamond shape.

 

[Denny Crane]

I don't want to be like certain other posters I could name who post polling data only when it favors their particular point of view, so here is a poll I ran across tonight...

barfo

Looks like the people value libertarian principles to me.

 

[barfo]

Looks like the people value libertarian principles to me.

Well, roughly half the people, anyway. Which is a lot.

Of course, there's no evidence that they value libertarian politicians, so maybe this isn't all that important after all?

barfo

 

[BrianFromWA]

120% of Americans are now partially libertarian?

 

[Denny Crane]

Well, roughly half the people, anyway. Which is a lot.

Of course, there's no evidence that they value libertarian politicians, so maybe this isn't all that important after all?

barfo

It means they're going to be open to accepting libertarian politicians more and more, especially when the traditional party politicians and govt. fail us more and more.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

120% of Americans are now partially libertarian?

no just 120 people

 

[Denny Crane]

An equally interesting chart would be of those who like less Liberty, more taxes, bigger government, more government spending, and endless debt.

 

[mook]

I wonder how it would look if it asked: Would you support politicians who promise to cut government spending on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security?

I think it's quite attractive to be libertarian in the abstract. The government has been in a shit-ton of bad headlines in the past few years, so saying you are against it and most of its endeavors has a certain appeal.

It's quite another thing to consider seeing your mom's Medicare cut. The government is the enemy unless you need a friend.

 

[BrianFromWA]

If you need a friend, find a friend. Or family. Or charity.

How did the gov't go from being something you serve to something you just take from incessantly?

 

[blazerboy30]

I wonder how it would look if it asked: Would you support politicians who promise to cut government spending on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security?

That wouldn't be an interesting question because it is a leading question.

 

[mook]

That wouldn't be an interesting question because it is a leading question.

Is there a way to rephrase that so it's not leading (IYO)?

I wasn't trying to be leading. I was trying to be specific. When people talk about cutting spending, those three programs (plus Defense) make up the vast lion's share of federal spending. Is it "leading" to force people to think through the real-world impact of libertarianism?

 

[maxiep]

Is there a way to rephrase that so it's not leading (IYO)?

I wasn't trying to be leading. I was trying to be specific. When people talk about cutting spending, those three programs (plus Defense) make up the vast lion's share of federal spending. Is it "leading" to force people to think through the real-world impact of libertarianism?

Offer the choice in the question between significantly raising taxes to keep our current Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security terms (the number I've seen is a Federal tax rate increase of 88%) vs. for those under 55 keeping tax rates the same but lowering Medicare benefits, raising income eligibility standards for Medicaid and raising the retirement age to 70 over the next 15 years.

At least, that's my shot at it.