people tend not to completely understand the top voting factors
my observations over many years on polled voting is clear
the view is reinforced by marketing research in the economy
they might say security and war position is important
but the economy remains of paramount importance
in marketing research, we used to have two techniques
1. ASK PEOPLE WHAT FACTORS ARE MOST IMPORTANT
2. INFER WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS ARE FROM MANY ANSWERS
respondents would be asked overall questions like
OVERALL, HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE PRODUCT XXX ?
they would also be asked to rate the product on many factors
with correlation analysis, we could infer what factors dominate
IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, A MISMATCH OF IMPORTANT FACTORS OCCURRED WITH THE SELF-STATED VERSUS THE DERIVED (INFERRED) IMPORTANT FACTORS
people simply do not always know what is most important
it has to be pulled out
I suspect that the economy is such a measure
sure, security and Iraq and terrorism and vessel containers and biologicals and border crossings are on their minds
BUT INCOME, JOB SECURITY, SERVICE OUTSOURCING TO ASIA, LAYOFFS, US BUSINESS INVESTMENT ABROAD (NOT HERE), THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT DRIVE THE VOTING PROCESS
people might talk about security issues
but when they must motivate to go to the polls, it is the economy that gets them out the door and to the voting centers
they might talk about security issues
but when they must pull a vote lever, it is the economy that gets them to move their arms and register that vote
the next paycheck, paying bills, providing for the family, these override security concerns
the finances are in the front of their minds
security is in the back of their minds
/ jim |
