How's the View From Where You're Standing?

One of the best things about an individual viewpoint is that everyone has one.  Nope, not trying to just sound like a smart-aleck, I'm saying that everyone - and I do mean EVERYONE - has an opinion.  Sure there are those who say they are 'neutral' or 'moderate' or 'open-minded', but ultimately they have a world view that colors everything they see and hear.  And yet we wonder why our nation still seems so divided; even as we try to figure out who is to blame for it aside from ourselves.

Case in point: the sad story of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.  In the story Almost no oil recovered from sand berms, the reader is treated to several paragraphs about Gov. Jindal’s colossal failure building sand berms that apparently were a complete waste of money.  But if you read the entire story, you’ll eventually see that the same commission quoted as condemning the sand berms for not really doing what they were established to do as a short-term solution goes on to agree that in the context of long-term coastal restoration they will be a “significant step forward.”  So, does that mean the expense was worthwhile or not?  If you don’t like Jindal, you’ll focus on the short-term failure to criticize him; but if you like Jindal, you’ll focus on the long-term success to laud him.  The difference isn’t in what happened or in Jindal – the difference is the eye of the beholder.

But then there are those ‘reports’ of how the economy is (or isn’t) doing.  Back on November 23, the Associated Press told us that the Fed lowers outlook for economy through 2011.  But the very next day, Reuters reported that Data hints U.S. recovery is becoming self-sustaining.  In the first story we were told: “Federal Reserve officials have become more pessimistic in their economic outlook through next year and have lowered their forecast for growth.”  Then in the second story we were told: “New U.S. claims for jobless benefits hit their lowest level in more than two years last week while consumer spending rose for a fourth straight month in October, suggesting the economy is nearing a self-sustaining recovery.” 

So is the outlook for the economy in 2011 good or bad?  The answer may be found a poll conducted by Bloomberg and reported by The Daily Caller on December 13: Poll: Majority of Americans say they are worse off than they were two years ago.  Among the results of this poll were “In a sweeping poll released by Bloomberg today, 66 percent of respondents said that they felt that “things in the nation…have… gotten off on the wrong track,” compared to just 27 percent who felt the country was heading in the right direction. 51 percent of respondents said they were worse off now than they were two years ago.”  And if that wasn’t bad enough, there was also this concerning news for President Obama: “Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of President Obama’s handling of the budget deficit, which 60 percent voicing disapproval and only 31 percent approving of his policy. Respondents also rebuked Obama for his performance creating jobs, with 55 percent disapproving.”

Is the economy improving and growing stronger?  Are President Obama’s policies helping the economy?  Were the sand berms a waste of money?  Each question can foster debate because perceptions demand multiple right answers – with the holder of each answer convinced that their position is indeed the sole correct one. 

But one thing is certain, President Obama is keenly aware that if he is to be personally successful in his goal to be re-elected in 2012, he needs to do a better job of guiding perceptions of himself.  Which brings us to the great tax compromise of 2011.  When Bush 41 reneged on his “Read my lips; no new taxes” pledge, he paid a very heavy political price for it.  His goal was to extend an olive branch to the Democrats who now had a greater Congressional power base.  In the end, they got him to agree to an increase in taxes and then turned around and ridiculed him for breaking his pledge.  President Obama is apparently attempting the same tactic in reverse.  It's not just taxes: Obama defends his credibility discusses how President Obama not only blindsided his own party with a deal to keep reduced tax rates in place but that he also angered organized labor with a call to freeze Federal worker wages.  What would motivate him to take such actions and risk the ire of his own party?  The answer is obviously found in the results of the 2010 mid-term elections that will strip his party of majority status in the House and nearly cost them the same in the Senate… and poll results such as those reported by Bloomberg above.

People will continue to see what they want to see and frame information in the context that they choose.  The question will be – to what extent will the 2010 election results alter people’s perceptions?  It will also be interesting to see who comes out the political winners in two years… will the Democrats return to power with a triumphantly re-elected Obama leading the charge as they are vindicated and embraced once again by the voters?  Or will the Republicans win over the hearts and minds of the people, establishing themselves as the perceived defenders of fiscal responsibility, and possibly sweeping another fresh face such as Jindal into the White House?

Time will tell.  Which is a good thing, since most people will never tell you the viewpoint they hold to!