Abstract vs conrete
Oct. 16th, 2008 07:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
libertangoI've been meaning to make this a full-fledged post. Since the issue came up in comments, I'm recycling being efficient with my writing. :)
*^*^*
"I'm surprised that McCain went there again in the first place as that issue was laid to rest in the LAST debate--does McCain have a listening problem?"
No, it's most likely he (or his advisers) think we do. That's probably the reason he latched on to the figure of "Joe the Plumber" -- because that changes supposedly abstract discussions into something real and tangible. Something concrete.
The problem is, McCain's slide from being even with Obama to his current 10-point or more deficit comes exactly from that shift. That is, as things have become more tangible and concrete -- as they hit everyday Americans' pocketbooks -- people trust the Republicans less and less. People are willing to give the Republicans some credence with abstract issues like the "culture wars", and terrorism, and raw laissez-faire capitalism, when we have the luxury of prosperity.
But take -- or even threaten -- prosperity away, and make metaphorical bread-and-butter issues into real bread-and-butter issues... And the electorate goes running to the Democrats.
This is a big chunk of why the Republicans are so confused right now. The remaining rump Republicans thought they were addressing real issues.
Now they're learning their issues are only "real."
Oops.
*^*^*
"I'm surprised that McCain went there again in the first place as that issue was laid to rest in the LAST debate--does McCain have a listening problem?"
No, it's most likely he (or his advisers) think we do. That's probably the reason he latched on to the figure of "Joe the Plumber" -- because that changes supposedly abstract discussions into something real and tangible. Something concrete.
The problem is, McCain's slide from being even with Obama to his current 10-point or more deficit comes exactly from that shift. That is, as things have become more tangible and concrete -- as they hit everyday Americans' pocketbooks -- people trust the Republicans less and less. People are willing to give the Republicans some credence with abstract issues like the "culture wars", and terrorism, and raw laissez-faire capitalism, when we have the luxury of prosperity.
But take -- or even threaten -- prosperity away, and make metaphorical bread-and-butter issues into real bread-and-butter issues... And the electorate goes running to the Democrats.
This is a big chunk of why the Republicans are so confused right now. The remaining rump Republicans thought they were addressing real issues.
Now they're learning their issues are only "real."
Oops.
