Policies have consequences. According to Gallup, the 2010 average satisfaction with the way things are going is a mere 23 percent. That is the reaction to 16 months of government expansion and intervention into the economy that has shocked many Americans. So what does it mean? Writes Gallup:
Satisfaction with the way things are going is a key indicator to watch leading up to Election Day in November. Low satisfaction ratings have typically been associated with greater net seat change between parties in Congress in midterm election years, as was the case for the 1982, 1994, and 2006 elections. In each of those years, the average satisfaction rating was no higher than 33%. In 1994 and 2006, as is the case this year, the same party controlled the presidency and Congress heading into the elections, and party control of Congress changed hands after Election Day.
The important point, however, is that change in control of Congress doesn’t ensure a return to fiscal sanity. What’s required is the election of fiscal conservatives. Having an “R” by one’s name isn’t the same as being a fiscal conservative. The last two years of the Bush administration clearly demonstrated that.
