Jolt
Monday Jolt: Minority Rule
For today's Jolt we will continue to obsess over the big statewide poll that hit today (more on that here and here
.)
Today's loser goes to today's winner in those poll numbers. Why the paradox? Because despite having the most numbers, Democracy isn't at play in Washington State these days.
Asked by the pollsters at Strategies 360 "how would you prefer to see the legislature attempt to reduce the state of Washington's budget deficit?" (the state is looking at a $1.4 billion shortfall), the numbers break down this way: 11 percent want to solve the problem by raising taxes; 19 percent want to tackle the problem with spending cuts; 21 percent want the problem solved with mostly spending cuts; while the biggest crew, 44 percent, want to reduce the deficit "equally with spending cuts and tax increases."
For starters, that puts the group that's okay with taxes at 55 percent. And the vast majority of that group, the 44 percent figure, want a mix. Either way, a plurality of people are advocating that taxes be a serious part of the solution to the state's budget woes.
Cue the sad trombone .
It's the minority, the 19 percent who want spending cuts only or the 21 percent who want mostly spending cuts, who control the options. Their minority rule power flows from I-1053, the initiative that passed in 2010 that mandated a two-thirds rule for the legislature to pass tax increases.
Today's winner is the future .
The same poll asked "Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?"
Answer: 54 percent say yes. 35 percent say no.
And here's a closer look: 56 percent of Independents are for gay marriage; 60 percent on non-whites; 51 percent of people 55 and older; and even 42 percent of voters in Eastern Washington are for gay marriage—a full twenty percentage points higher than the 22 percent of Republicans who support gay marriage.
Today's loser goes to today's winner in those poll numbers. Why the paradox? Because despite having the most numbers, Democracy isn't at play in Washington State these days.
Asked by the pollsters at Strategies 360 "how would you prefer to see the legislature attempt to reduce the state of Washington's budget deficit?" (the state is looking at a $1.4 billion shortfall), the numbers break down this way: 11 percent want to solve the problem by raising taxes; 19 percent want to tackle the problem with spending cuts; 21 percent want the problem solved with mostly spending cuts; while the biggest crew, 44 percent, want to reduce the deficit "equally with spending cuts and tax increases."
For starters, that puts the group that's okay with taxes at 55 percent. And the vast majority of that group, the 44 percent figure, want a mix. Either way, a plurality of people are advocating that taxes be a serious part of the solution to the state's budget woes.
Cue the sad trombone .
It's the minority, the 19 percent who want spending cuts only or the 21 percent who want mostly spending cuts, who control the options. Their minority rule power flows from I-1053, the initiative that passed in 2010 that mandated a two-thirds rule for the legislature to pass tax increases.
Today's winner is the future .
The same poll asked "Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?"
Answer: 54 percent say yes. 35 percent say no.
And here's a closer look: 56 percent of Independents are for gay marriage; 60 percent on non-whites; 51 percent of people 55 and older; and even 42 percent of voters in Eastern Washington are for gay marriage—a full twenty percentage points higher than the 22 percent of Republicans who support gay marriage.
