A lot of times, here in the forums, we talk about the left, the right, the inane, the insane, the democrats, the republicans, the extremisms, the ups-n-downs of the American people.

But, there is one thing that is truly lost in the chaos between good and evil, the left and the right.

There is something missing, the middle. Mr. Average Joe American. Usually right around middle class, has a mortgage, car, a dog/cat, 2 kids and a wife.

A lot of times we talk about the extremisms of the left and right, but Mr. Average Joe American, right there in the middle of nothing but chaos who goes to work and pays his bills, taxes and whatever else he needs.

We forget about him, because there is no real outcry from middle America. The blue collar workers who keep us going through the drudgery of our lives here in America.

You could say that he really doesn't care much about politics, nor what the candidates have to say, because he knows better than to believe any politician.

With things like Hillary and John speaking of a gas tax holiday with Obama not jumping on the bandwagon and other things these candidates boast about what they will do, and mostly just fall completely short of any mark that they actually will say or do.

Do you think that Mr. Average Joe American cares about what these candidates have to say? Probably not, because like a lot of middle America, there is no real voice and outcry.

What would Mr. Average Joe American get upset about politically? The loss of jobs, his company cutting back with a possibility of being laid off from work because companies continue to outsource to other foreign companies. Mr. Average Joe American will be looking at losing his pension, his medical care for him and his family. With the possibility of job loss through cutbacks might mean he might lose his house and car. The stress he may endure if he does get a pink slip, and have to hit the streets after being on his job for so long and having to find a new job and start all over again. But this time, he is having a hard time finding a new job because so many companies are outsourcing to foreign countries, leaving Mr. Average Joe American struggling with him and his family.

Mr. Average Joe American is now lost his house, lost his car, lost his medical, lost his pension all at the hands of companies who have outsourced to foreign countries.

So, this leaves him on unemployment, food/stamps, welfare, no medical insurance to cover him and his family.

And, we sit here debating about what is going on in our country, and we only need to look at the people who is truly causing the issues for average Americans.

It doesn't matter which side of the aisle you sit on or how far to each side you decide to place yourselves. It just boils down to Politicians only looking out after themselves and forgetting the people who actually voted them into office.

It's time for a change America, and it is up to us, the middle America to let our voices be heard.

Op-ed by, yours truly, SDL

quote:

Do you think that Mr. Average Joe American cares about what these candidates have to say? Probably not, because like a lot of middle America, there is no real voice and outcry.

They simply blame illegals, who are currently all of societies problems or any other suitable scapegoat, anyone or anything but their elected leaders.....

When people start to fear their government, it has become tyrannical...

I am Joe Six-pack.
I am middle America.
I am an hourly, blue collar slob.
And yes, I care.
And yes, my rage increases weekly, if not daily.

quote:

Originally posted by rm444:
I am Joe Six-pack.
I am middle America.
I am an hourly, blue collar slob.
And yes, I care.
And yes, my rage increases weekly, if not daily.

Hear, hear, you hit it right.

I like to think of myself as above average

Seriously though, great op-ed

Agree with you 444.

Guys... Please analyze this as a whole, not just the parts of it.

The message is much deeper.

On average, most Americans do not care about politics in the least until it affects them directly.

There are about 3-million people in the state of Oregon. Out of that, about 1.6 million people registered to vote.

And, that is just this state.

The truth is, no one cares about politics until it actually affects them.

Now, PLEASE take it as a whole document that I wrote, not just one small aspect of it.

On the whole, the article is dead on the money.

**NOTE: Something I have noticed about Point/Counter-Point, but even greater than that alone, this site as a whole, there is very little mittle ground, in fact it is quite thin, with the more I see, it really looks like the extremes, both right and left are like a balancing rod that is weighted heavily at both ends. Take two cones, and place the tips together, and that's what I see here. I'm not saying that to be offensive or to slam anyone. It is nothing more than an observation.

quote:

The message is much deeper.

On average, most Americans do not care about politics in the least until it affects them directly.

Well, for all of us dunderheads, please detail this blindingly complex message.

quote:

Originally posted by rm444:

quote:

The message is much deeper.

On average, most Americans do not care about politics in the least until it affects them directly.

Well, for all of us dunderheads, please detail this blindingly complex message.

Thanks, rm, I thought it was just me.

quote:

Do you think that Mr. Average Joe American cares about what these candidates have to say?

Certainly not if they say it while American Idol is on.

BTW ... anyone know who got the boot last night? I missed it.

I consider myself to be pretty much average-joe material. I have some strong views, but in most cases, I tend towards the middle path. When it comes to politics, I do care somewhat, mainly about determining, by prior record, the least of the evils offered...it is not a good choice in most years...

You are right however, most average people do not care one way or the other about who is running for anything above the office of mayor here in my corner of the world, because of a few reasons: we don't know the people on a personal level, it tends to not affect us personally, and lastly, we now that professional politicians will/do lie and BS their way to the forefront to get elected and therefore do not trust them.

I meet all but two of the markers you listed for an average-joe, currently I am single(haven't found the right one yet), and I currently have no kids(got to find the right one first). Otherwise, I'm out there in the grind, working for what I can get, to pay the bills I do get(on time too...too bad the paychecks get delayed on occasion), and save what I can to provide for myself and hopefully my future family.

Maybe it is just my small town way, but politics that do not affect us are seldom even thought of here, much less discussed, hell McCain visited Birmingham, and it didn't even make the paper, but a girl in Granger lost her dog and that made the local news, along with a $20 reward for its' return.(BTW the dog was found)

quote:

Originally posted by Jade_Gate:

quote:

Do you think that Mr. Average Joe American cares about what these candidates have to say?

Certainly not if they say it while American Idol is on.

BTW ... anyone know who got the boot last night? I missed it.

That jagoff with the dreds.
The only reason I know is because I got home at midnight and my wife was watching it in bed and made a stink cuz I went to shut it off.
SERENITY NOW!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SwtDivaLove:
Guys... Please analyze this as a whole, not just the parts of it.

The message is much deeper.

On average, most Americans do not care about politics in the least until it affects them directly.

There are about 3-million people in the state of Oregon. Out of that, about 1.6 million people registered to vote.

And, that is just this state.

The truth is, no one cares about politics until it actually affects them.

------------------------------------------------
I do not think they do not care, they have simply lost faith and respect for those we have elected...(That includes all of them irregardless to political parties). We have witnessed so much greed, corruption and it is the "average JOE OR JOANNA " , who is simply struggling to maintain what they have, alot of couples are working two jobs each, seems impossible to put their children thru college...Daycare can run up a tab of 250 and up a week for one child....When they hear of lost millions by haliburton (something they and their children will have to pay for) Enron (worrying about their own retirement and hoping like hell it won't happen to them) Food pricing are high, gas prices are high and public school systems quality is going down...An overall so is the quality of life...And let's not mention the potential non-existance of Social Security...

These are issues that are not being address, no real action...And irregardless of who is to blame in the housing crisis...It definitely took many victims...As people watch the values of their homes declines admist foreclosures...

I mean if they are auctioning foreclose homes in ones community for say 10-15K, If you are their neighbor your home might have been valued at say 150,000...Not likely that you will be able to sale it that price anytime soon....Plus, these high foreclosures means the remaining residents will have to eventually pass a tax levy in those community...(loss tax revenue do to foreclosures) And they will have to pay the new rate on the 150,000 value (when we all know it is no longer worth that).

And the people that buys these homes will pay a tax rate based on the 10-15K or less they paid for it...


That is enough to make people lose faith or perhaps they just want to find a way to survive it all...

The More I think about it, the more clear the answer is becoming: The Gun, The People...and a road to Washington DC...

There is no other way....

Aco, are you supporting revolution up in here? Well hell, lemme get my piece...

It can only end one way.They will back us into a corner and then call US the bad guys when we light up on 'em.
F'ers.

Now rm444, how are they going to call us anything if we light them up? I have never heard a dead person speak, ttough I have heard of them voting...

quote:

It's time for a change America, and it is up to us, the middle America to let our voices be heard.

This is what I say, right there, quoted for the world to see.

quote:

Originally posted by SwtDivaLove:

quote:

It's time for a change America, and it is up to us, the middle America to let our voices be heard.

This is what I say, right there, quoted for the world to see.

Who do you propose will HEAR us?
Noone cares because our govt serves itself only.
We provide the revenue off of our blood and sweat so they can build some version of Utopia that we dont want.
Who is gonna hear us?
What is the point of this discussion?

quote:

Originally posted by rm444:
It can only end one way.They will back us into a corner and then call US the bad guys when we light up on 'em.
F'ers.

3 more on board 140 million left to convince..

The "middle" is where America went, after hollywood brainwashed the masses into believing that politics and religion were not to be discussed.

The middle are those that compromise themselves out of freedom.

The elites would love for everyone to be in the middle. No passion for the Constitution will ever come out of the middle.

Power groups use the extremes to get a hold on an agenda they have for more power. When you can convine america there is a problem, they conveniently will bring you a solution.

It is the role of media editors to focus on the extremes to brainwash the masses into believing many more problems need solving by the elites.

Stay out of the middle, when your role is gone neither side will have a place for you.

God Bless America!