The Ripon Society released the results of a recent national survey that encompassed both the political environment and the economic views and concerns of the middle class at a luncheon held last week.
“A lot has been written in recent months about the angry voter of the 2015-2016 election cycle,” veteran strategist Ed Goeas, who conducted the survey on behalf of the Ripon Society and led the luncheon briefing, said. “Dissatisfaction with Washington and the direction of the country is nothing new with the American electorate. Whether Republicans or Democrats have controlled the White House, the Congress, or both, over 60 percent of voters have felt that the country was off on the wrong track for well over a decade. Indeed, voters are remarkably negative about the status quo and direction of the country, and those feelings have grown even more intense in recent years.”
Goeas added that voters now see the federal government as “an ineffective mess that is causing more harm than good.” Voters, however, want the government to do more.
“Nowhere is this truer than with the middle class, 70 percent of whom believe the federal government is part of the problem, not part of the solution,” Goeas said. “In addition, 60 percent of middle class voters believe that the government would not be able to effectively implement a solution to a major problem.
“As with the broader electorate, 69 percent of middle class voters feel that the federal government is not doing enough to solve the problems facing the country. Compounding this, the middle class also has deeply held feelings that the next generation will not do as well as their generation, moving the American Dream further from their reach. Seventy-five percent believe that with the current federal government solutions, the rich get the benefits, the poor get the programs, and the middle class get the bill.”
Goeas pinpointed several areas to focus on to increase support among middle class voters, noting that the top issue for middle class voters was creating jobs, which was cited by 20 percent of all respondents to the survey. Reducing the cost of health care was cited by 15 percent of respondents, while reducing the deficit was named by 14 percent and cutting taxes by 11 percent.
“These are all issues on which a political party who is united on the need for fiscal responsibility should be able to make a compelling case for improvement to voters,” Goeas said.
To begin to solve such problems, Goeas said, the fiscal challenges facing America must be addressed head on. Goeas also gave credit to Speaker Paul Ryan for his leadership in that area.
“Speaker Ryan has already taken a big step in that direction by framing the economic goal of his speakership as creating greater upward mobility in our society,” Goeas said. “That economic goal receives 79 percent agreement with the total electorate and middle class, 77 percent with Republican voters, and grows to 81 percent with middle class whites and 82 percent with middle class African Americans.”
Goeas closed by saying that middle class voters will be of great importance during this election cycle and are the key to taking the White House.
“Winning the hearts and minds of middle class voters will be an enormous help for Republicans,” Goeas said. “Winning the strong support of these voters will ensure a presidential victory and will ensure that Republicans maintain control of Congress. Making an effective appeal to middle class voters will also ensure that Republicans achieve a level of support from minority voters not seen since at least 2008. The road to winning at the polls in November will run through the middle class and the road to winning with middle class voters runs through convincing them of your intention to make economic mobility a real possibility.”