Friday, March 26, 2010

Interesting Blurb from _Bloomberg_

Hmmmm.

"Tea Party activists, who are becoming a force in U.S. politics, want the federal government out of their lives except when it comes to creating jobs. [A personal aside... also except when it comes to women's health issues.]

More than 90 percent of Tea Party backers interviewed in a new Bloomberg National Poll say the U.S. is verging more toward socialism than capitalism, the federal government is trying to control too many aspects of private life and more decisions should be made at the state level.

At the same time, 70 percent of those who sympathize with the Tea Party, which organized protests this week against President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul, want a federal government that fosters job creation."



~And~


"Tea Party supporters are likely to be older, white and male. Forty percent are age 55 and over, compared with 32 percent of all poll respondents; just 22 percent are under the age of 35, 79 percent are white, and 61 percent are men. Many are also Christian fundamentalists, with 44 percent identifying themselves as “born-again,” compared with 33 percent of all respondents.

The poll of 1,002 U.S. adults was conducted March 19-22 by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points."


~And~


"Fewer than 10 percent say the Veterans Administration is definitely socialist, 12 percent identify management of national parks and museums, and 36 percent say expanding Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor and Social Security amount to socialism.

Many more, 65 percent, say Social Security is either definitely or sort of socialism. Even so, almost half, 47 percent, want to keep it under government control or aren’t sure about privatization, with 53 percent in favor of privatizing Social Security and Medicare."



It has the word "social" in the name... that's their first literal thinking cue.

Here's a link to the poll for those who want to check out its methods and item wording.


PS: Sat, March 27: After having time to check out the poll, it is rather unclear *how* the pollsters consider this a survey to show information about Teabaggers. I design and research work on surveys for my scholarship and this one is too goofy to be able to draw these conclusions.



6 comments:

Aliceson March 26, 2010 at 11:05 AM  

Yeah Socialism, Social Security, what was their first clue?

My Dad was over last week and was telling me all about how since he is laid off (Union Construction Electrician) and currently without health insurance, he decided to seek medical care from the VA. He had a full exam, is scheduled for a colonoscopy, has an appointment to have his hearing checked and possibly get some hearing aids. His words to me were, "I'm lovin' my socialized medicine!"

Anonymous,  March 26, 2010 at 5:11 PM  

They really are afraid of being marginalized, the way that they had marginalized their elders in the generations before.

Wow.

And now all I see in my head is talking, wrinkled, white, penii wearing crosses.

Unknown March 26, 2010 at 5:11 PM  

It's always bad unless it helps a Tea Bagger.

A return to the old canon: old dead white guys . . .

Anonymous,  March 26, 2010 at 8:22 PM  

Here's an idea - rather than healthcare reform, let's call it The Grande Olde War TIme Stars and Stripes Forever God Bless the USA Fund.

Chris March 26, 2010 at 10:22 PM  

So sad!! How did we get to this? I'm hoping it's one of those learning curve times....it gets worse, before it gets better.

Aliceson....my Dad too...he loves his VA!!!! At 84, his Dr., who monitors his hearing (he also has aides) asked what he did in the service....when he heard that he was a nose gunner in a bomber, he said he would put in for a service related disability, and my Dad got another $1400/mo.!!!!! Not a death panel for sure!

skyewriter March 27, 2010 at 9:00 AM  

Hi, Aliceson and Chris: Nice to see you both! It's been a while and I know I haven't been a good bloggy friend. I am so glad to hear good stories of VA care, especially those who are so near and dear to you.

Poietes: Careful with that dead part... :)

SEC: Yes, and marginalized they were by all legal and constitutional channels and they are throwing one of the biggest collective, red-faced, hurl-yourself-to-the-ground tantrums... but armed.

Welcome southernfemalelawyer: Thanks for stopping by. If you are looking for comments from the stalkerati (Mike W, ruffridr, Bob, and their ilk), you'll need to look at February '09. They have been banned due to violent threats against my family, pets, and life (not directly from them, but from the hooligans with whom they troll). If I let one in, they all swarm, light shit on my comment screen, and hurl all types of abuse that I will not take. Hope to see you again!

(off to check out your blog)

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