Interpreting Federal Elections

Much continues to be said and written about what the Congressional elections of 2006 mean. That there is no consensus does not prevent people from saying what they think. Of course looking back to 2006 is less important than looking forward to 2008, when the next Federal election occurs. Just what are the interpretations and trends?

It seems as though the big three voting issues in 2006 revolved around Iraq, complacence in Congress, and populist economic issues. Lesser issues included energy independence, stem cells, education, health, social security, role of government, taxes, moral standards, global war on terror, immigration, and national parties vying for power and influence. Whew, that is a big list!

The trends for the future are more interesting to most.

What people think happened is as important as what actually happened.
The numbers in Congress are split almost evenly.
National politicians are the worst interpreters of the results and trends, though you would not know it by the speechifying. The mainstream media is the next worst.
Most people’s opinions about results and trends are heavily influenced by where they sit.
The mainstream media’s interpretations are on a declining trend in credibility.
Professional campaign planner’s abilities to influence the vote have peaked, and will decline along with the mainstream media’s decline as a front man. The rise of the blogosphere’s exposing of campaign manipulations will aid and abet this process.
Confusing voter education levels with intelligence will continue for the ill-informed campaigners.
The acceleration of the Presidential campaign process will peak with the 2008 election, and then revert under voter pressures.
The roll of money in campaigns and access to politicians will remain the same.
The global war on terror (and security at home) will dominate foreign policy voting issues. Iraq as a foreign policy issue will fade as we extricate ourselves and turn the Iraqi’s future over to themselves.
Populist economic issues and immigration will dominate domestic voting issues.
Which national party we trust to best protect us (foreign and domestic) will weigh heavily in voting.
Problem solving over polarization will continue to catch on.
Voters’ opinions about a candidate’s integrity will outweigh focus group reverberations from candidates. Just because it is popular does not make it right.
The baby boomers’ influence on society will continue until they start dying out.
Wildcards are always at play. A major terrorist attack or an epidemic are the obvious ones people think about today. Note that both have to do with family security at home.

The aforementioned is one list at best. But by all means, get out and vote locally, regionally, and nationally in order to make a real list. We voters are in charge.