"Average Americans/Ordinary Americans": When talking heads and politicians use these terms, who do

[Skidmore]

you think they are describing?

My personal belief is that they have a mental picture of the "average/ordinary American" as someone who is in their social circle or work environment, and I believe that those mental images do not include many who would fall into the working class. Professional class, maybe. Working class, no. Definitely not the working poor or the poor.

Interested in your thoughts.

[XemaSab]

1. I just assume they're not talking about anyone in California

so I tune them out. :shrug:

[pepperbear]

2. I think they really do mean "archie bunker"....

the problem is, they've convinced archie that the only way to help him is to help his boss instead.

[Beavker]

3. Yes, I'm sure that is what they are saying.

CNBC always rages about that "People" are saying this, and "Americans" are saying that (Rick Santelli incident is a prime example). They don't know what most people are saying. They know what their guests are saying, and those people are Wall Street CEO's, Investors, Analysts and wealthy (accredited) investors. They are not me, or my Mom (Insurance processor), or my Aunt (Legal Secretary), my Brother (Welder), or my Grandpa (retired Mill worker). They have no idea what people are saying. THEY are saying it and using their platform to push their agenda. I get Gallup pole email updates on things...I know what the people are generally saying, I guess they don't get these same poles. They are definitely not talking about the people that voted for Obama, which is the majority of the population at this point.

Say it, and it is so.

[napi21]

4. You're probably right about some of them, but I really believe

most mean a broad range of people (mostly less well off than they are) from the poor & working poor to upper middle class.

Most form their opinions from their own past experiences, so if they grew up inluxury they don't really know anything else.

To be a little fair here, I grew up shortly after the depression. We didn't have much, but we always had food on the table, and one gift for bdays & Christmas. But even after that experience I CAN'T relate to stories about people who live on $2.00 a week or less somewhere in the world. To some degree we are all victims of our experiences.

[Beavker]

5. True

But you can appreciate how hard it would be and not put your opinion out there before acknowledging the fact that you can't relate to the homeless. I can't either. But I feel for them, and I am not about to speak for them, escecially on national television where your one sided negative comments can influence and thus help drive down the economy. Bernanke said, in essence, that he thought the recession would end this year some time, and the market rallied on that alone. Not the real data. On a verbal opinion by one individual. Some opinions are more poiniant than others, but if you have a forum like CNBC does, you better not speak for me, as you would not speak for the completely destitute. It's called empathy. These guys don't have it. Empathy makes them less rich.

[Beavker]

6. Good Example just shown on CNBC

Larry Kudlow, one of the most narrow minded, single minded, right wing idiot Dinosaurs that CNBC puts up there daily to spout his own ideals, just said that the idea of taxing Hedge Funds is the stupidest idea he has ever heard. Hedge Funds, until recently we're poorly if not regulated at all (we know what that leads to), and enjoyed little taxation. Do you know who invests in Hedge Funds?

Per HedgeFundblogger.com:

An Accredited Investor is an individual who either:
a.) has a net worth greater than $1 million.
b.) has an income in the past two years that exceeds $200,000/year, and expects to continue this way.
or c.) holds assets greater than $5 million.

A Qualified Purchaser is either:
a.) an individual that owns at least $5 million in investments.
b.) a family-held business that owns at least $5 million in investments.
c.) a business that has discretion of at least $25 million in investments.
d.) a trust that is sponsored by qualified purchasers.

Is that the average American? Don't think so. I'm sure Larry Cokelow (a recovering Coke Addict) has a point, but it's basically he doesn't want to tax rich people, nor does he want Government regulating his activities which make him money by simply investing money he already has.