Romney loses election

[rah]

Traditionally when the economy tanks, charities are some of the first organizations affected since those that usually contribute have less to contribute.
So when they're needed the most, they are usually at their lowest level of resources.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Traditionally when the economy tanks, charities are some of the first organizations affected since those that usually contribute have less to contribute.
So when they're needed the most, they are usually at their lowest level of resources.

This. To clarify, as previously noted on these boards the top income earners in the country are those who have lost the largest share of incomes, thus tax revenues are down likewise the amounts given to philanthropies. Best means to increase charitable givings is for prosperous times, that of course does not address the needs at the time they are required, per Rah above. (The thought of rainy day funds is anethema.)

[Imran Siddiqui]

And let's be real. The reason the government started getting into the whole "taking care of the poor" business was because charities couldn't handle all of it (or even close to all of it) and were inefficient in it to boot.

[Ben Kenobi]

The reason the government started getting into the whole "taking care of the poor" business was because charities couldn't handle all of it (or even close to all of it) and were inefficient in it to boot.

That's not what LBJ said.

LBJ wanted to massively expand the size of government. LBJ never said that 'charities couldn't handle it all'.

[kentonio]

This is an important hour for the Nation, for those of our citizens who have completed their tour of duty and have moved to the sidelines. These are the days that we are trying to celebrate for them. These people are our prideful responsibility and they are entitled, among other benefits, to the best medical protection available.

Not one of these, our citizens, should ever be abandoned to the indignity of charity. Charity is indignity when you have to have it. But we don't want these people to have anything to do with charity and we don't want them to have any idea of hopeless despair.

Mr. President, I am glad to have lived this long and to witness today the signing of the Medicare bill which puts this Nation right where it needs to be, to be right. Your inspired leadership and a responsive forward-looking Congress have made it historically possible for this day to come about.

[kentonio]

Latest Pew poll has Obama up 8 points incidentally.

[Hauldren Collider]

And the latest gallup poll has him basically tied among registered voters.

Who's cherry picking now?

[Hauldren Collider]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/157544/voters-reaction-romney-comments-tilts-negative.aspx

PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans have a more negative than positive immediate reaction to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's comments, secretly caught on video, about the 47% of Americans whom he said are Obama supporters and dependent on the government. Thirty-six percent of voters say Romney's comments make them less likely to vote for him, while 20% say the remarks make them more likely to vote for him, and 43% say the comments won't make a difference.

...

But independents -- voters who are, by definition, less fixed in their partisanship -- tilt toward the "less likely" over the "more likely" view by a 29% to 15% margin -- although more than half say Romney's comments make no difference.

Seems like it's largely a wash.

[kentonio]

Good thing we have polling averages then. RCP has Obama at +2.9 overall.

[Hauldren Collider]

RCP does nothing to account for convention bounce, which in the latest polls has evaporated.

[DinoDoc]

The government considers being on the dole an honor now.

[kentonio]

Seems like it's largely a wash.

Wtf, you bolded the bits you liked and ignored..

Thirty-six percent of voters say Romney's comments make them less likely to vote for him

and..

But independents -- voters who are, by definition, less fixed in their partisanship -- tilt toward the "less likely" over the "more likely" view by a 29% to 15% margin

[Hauldren Collider]

I didn't ignore them. I'm pointing out that the effects are likely to be marginal. When you have that many people who think it won't change things at all, and such a small minority saying "eh, it might change my vote", do you really think it will matter that much?

[kentonio]

You think 36% and 29% are 'small minorities'?!

Even if they were, considering this is still supposed to be a close election*, any shift like that would be of incredible importance.

*It's not.

[MRT144]

How much money do you have to earn to make 30k after taxes in America? Everyone who makes less than this amount is worse off than the folks receiving 30k in benefits every year. That plus the opportunity cost of having to work.

Really? 30K cash is better than 30k benefits, if you disagree you're an idiot for not taking the optimal path.