Re: WHY ARE WORKING PEOPLE VOTING [D]
Georgia and Armyvet, while I appreciate your perspectives on "hard working people," you would be surprised at who is receiving the most government "hand-outs." Both parties are firmly digging their heels into our tax dollars, and typical Republican strongholds probably receive MORE federal handouts than Democratic strongholds.
Consider: The federal spending that people typically call federal "welfare"--money going from the federal government to state unemployment and other welfare programs, constituted $16.5 billion in 2003.
Washington Poststateline.org
Now, consider agricultural welfare. Where does this money go? The most recent agricultural subsidies data I can find estimates federal spending in farm subsidies at $18.7 billion
http://www.washtimes.com/business/20031207-114046-8545r.htm. No one farms in the cities (the biggest Democratic strongholds)--not surprisingly, the vast majority of this money goes to Red states and Republicans.
What about other spending projects and those loathsome "government made jobs"? Take a look at "pork barrel" spending inserted inappropriately into federal bills. These typically involve transportation and public work projects. If you've ever been to W.Va, you'd also notice that most of these projects are totally unnecessary, and constitute your prototypical "government made jobs." Data is hard to find on this, but 2001 numbers place the top pork-barrel states per population: 1. Alaska, 2. Hawaii, 3. Mississippi, 4. Alabama, 5. West Virginia. That's 80% Red states!
http://www.webguild.com/sentinel/gov_waste.htm