Bitter Angry Frustrated

Anyone of those words can describe the mood of the mid and low-middle class folks I know. But as this op-ed details, most of the talking heads, policy wonks, and politicians might be able to read the mood, but they still don't have a clue. The Republican party is almost universally portrayed as exclusive and elitist, while the Democrats are cast as inclusive and connected to the common person. It may be my party, but it sure isn't reflecting me anymore. The Democratic leadership and policy makers are every bit as elitist as the GOP.

So is it time to become Green? Not if the Greens in my part of the country are any indication of the whole. For the most part they are disaffected liberal elitist Democrats. The Libertarians are way too free market, ignoring that economics has a category called "second best" that is not subject to supply and demand forces in the classically understood manner. Health care and education are two of the bigger items that fall into this category.

There are other minor parties, many with some really sound policy platforms, but they have no standing within the general electorate. So it looks like we go through another presidential election cycle without representation for the majority of the population, and the backbone of the economy. Too bad Paul Tsongas' plea for a new centrist party fell on deaf ears. If he were alive today someone might actually listen. Hopefully we've learned that those portraying themselves as centrist today really aren't what they claim.