It's the Economy, Stupid

I've been participating in an ongoing survey from PoliticsHome.com for the last several weeks. The idea is to ask a few questions and garner a snapshot of what inoformed individuals have on their minds. It's a noble undertaking, and I never let an opportunity to be mouthy pass.

But today's poll boggles my mind:

06.03.09 Jury Panel Survey

Out of the following list of topics that dominated this week's news, which did you find most interesting? (Please select up to three)

• US reached out to Russia
• NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith went missing, and are presumed dead, after their fishing vessel capsized off the coast of Florida
• Chris Brown charged with two felony counts in alleged assault on girlfriend Rihanna
• Secretary Clinton visited the Middle East and Europe
• British Prime Minister met president in Washington and addressed both houses of Congress
• International Criminal Court issued arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir for war crimes
• Democrats and Republicans sparred over Rush Limbaugh and his role
• Congress debated $410 billion spending bill over earmarks
• President Obama began process of healthcare reform
• Economy: unemployment reached 8.1%; Dow fell below 7,000
• Sri Lankan cricket team attacked in Pakistan
• CA Supreme Court heard arguments for and against Proposition 8 in legal case

This was my response:

"The most interesting story of the week is the economy. GM traded briefly at the same level as 1933 and closed 47 cents over that. Citigroup is trading for a dollar or so. Bank of America is under three dollars and facing investigations over its acquisition of Merrill. AIG is flirting with bankruptcy since it can't find buyers for its profitable assets. Unemployment hit 8.1%. The Dow is worth about half of what it was a year ago (as is my 401k).

"It's the economy, stupid."

Why they missed that story befuddles me.

Maybe they think that people have had too much economic gloom and doom to care any more. But since people usually vote with their pocket-books, I don't know where they got that idea.

If you can't count on the liberal press to put out relevant questions, who's left? FOX News?

We all have death-and-disaster and bailout-fatigue. But the stories can't be ignored. The questions they didn't ask about will determine the lives of millions of people. Those are the questions that matter right now.

Battle-fatigued or not, we have no choice but to soldier on. And ignoring that as a major news story that was the "most interesting" indicates a total lack of connection with reality.

I'm most interested in whether or not my company will survive, whether or not I'm going to be reduced to unemployment payments and food stamps, and whether or not my retirement money will ever be worth what I've paid for.

That's the most interesting story of the week.

How they missed it, I don't know.