According to internet statistics (which may or may not be accurate) there are 201 million US citizens who are 18 years old or older and therefore eligible to vote. Also, according to internet statistics 55 million voters are registered as Republicans, 72 million are registered as Democrats, 42 million indicate they are independents, leaving 32 million voters not affiliated with any of the other 3 categories. 27% are Republicans
36% are Democrats
20% are Independents
17% not registered or committed
In the 2008 Presidential election, Obama received 56% of the vote while McCain only received 43% of the vote, winning by a margin of 13% but winning nonetheless. However, only 64% of the population eligible to vote actually voted, indicating that a dramatic 36% of the population eligible to vote did not exercise their right to vote or 1 out of 3.
Drilling down a little further, we see the following:
- Of the age group 18-29 à 68% voted for Obama
- Of the age group 30-44 à 52% voted for Obama
- Of the age group 45-59 à 49% voted for Obama
- Of the age group 60+ à 47% voted for Obama
What is more interesting to me is the fact that the popular vote does not elect the President, the Evote Electoral College elects the President. In order to win the Presidency, the successful candidate must receive a minimum of 270 electoral votes. In 2008, Obama received 349 and McCain received 163, showing us that Obama received 68% and the challenger received 32%.
This is a clear victory both among the general public and within the Electoral College. But,
- Why did 1/3 of the eligible voting population not vote?
- Why did more females vote for Obama than males?
- Why did less and less of the aging population vote for Obama?
Speculative concerns:
Would the Democrats compromise their principles to attract 50% or more of the Independents? And, if that is a possibility would those actions cannibalize current party supporters.
In an age of American religious hypocrisy, how many potential voters will the Democratic Party lose as a result of their stance on Abortion and Same Sex marriages?
In an age of potential fiscal responsibility, how many and which programs will the Democrats not be able to fund?
Will the Democrats create jobs through government expenditures or through business expenditures?
How will the Democrats seriously improve our educational deficits?
How will the Democrats help businesses (that are typically Republican supporters) compete in the global marketplace?
How will the Democrats protect Americans against a Chinese economy that is expected to become larger than the US economy by 2018 or by the end of their next term in office?
How will the Democrats handle the increasing decline of the Middle Class while at the same time influencing the top 5% financially (who are typically Republicans) to help Americans who cannot or will not help themselves?
How will the Democrats protect an aging population, who has serious financial and health concerns due to limited income and a provocative earlier lifestyle?
How will the Democrats balance government spending and government fiscal responsibility while policing the amount of money that Americans spend on illegal drugs, illegal porn, and alcohol?
The real question here is,
what do you think?
2 comments:
How will the REpublicans do all those things too? Why is it only the Democrats are in this race? The only position I've heard from the Republicans is 9-9-9. Have they answered any of your questions here?
The Republicans, to me, do not seem to have a clue about what is going on in this country or in the rest of the world for that matter. By their nature and platform, they are only interested in business, economics, and the bottom line at all costs. Some claim to be liberal conservatives but that is simply to get the vote and certainly not to change any of their political beliefs.
The Democrats, on the other hand, are also by definition, for the common person, fair play, and providing a quality lifestyle for as many Americans as they can. However, due to that philosophy many "takers" have learned they do not have to give anything back.
My list was not to go against the Democrats but to give them an opportunity to provide what they people are saying they want. And, if they could present a plan, the other parties would be sucking air.
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