Is
there such a thing as a political person whom we actually approve of? I’m
starting to wonder.
 |
| We don't approve of Bruce Rauner... |
It
seems like every time we hear of another poll of a government official, the
result is that we don’t approve of the person. We can’t stand them. It’s a
wonder we ever elected the bum in the first place.
ALL
OF WHICH makes me think that these surveys of likeability and approval ratings
probably don’t mean much. We voted that person in, and in most cases likely
would do the same when given the chance again.
It
comes across as our complaining because we don’t have fantasy candidates – who because
they are fantasy exist merely in our imaginations.
I
was inspired by the Morning Consult study of governors that showed our very own
state chief executive had dropped to a 34 percent favorable rating, with a
majority (54 percent) going so far as to say they disapprove of Bruce Rauner
and his performance.
It’s
no wonder, what with the approaching a year-long stalemate over preparing a
budget. Even the people who voted for Rauner back in 2014 likely are disgusted
with the politically partisan mess that has developed.
NOT
THAT IT should be said that the public has turned on Rauner. My guess is that
if a poll was done of the likeability factor and approval for Illinois House
Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, it would be equally as high against him as
it is against Rauner.
The
truth most likely is that we don’t like anybody who’s foolish enough to
actually run for political office, once they assume the position and become
responsible for getting things done.
Which
is hard for political people, because they inherently have the desire to be
liked by the public – if not downright worshipped. It’s the reason they run for
public office in the first place.
 |
| ... and don't think much of Mike Madigan either |
They
may talk about the desire to do the public good and the people’s business. But
it really is about their egos enjoying the idea that it is them who has the
power to get those things done.
SO
I’M NOT all that swayed by the high negativity ratings for Rauner. Heck, I’d be
surprised if they weren’t terrible.
Even
the fact that he’s the sixth most unpopular governor in the nation shouldn’t be
a surprise. Although I’m sure that the five people ahead of Rauner on that list
aren’t too enthused, particularly Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback – who comes off as
Number One on the list of most disapproved of.
In
fact, it often surprises me to learn of President Barack Obama’s approval
ratings. As of Thursday, 52 percent of the public finds him favorable,
according to the Gallup Organization. Also, a study by Gallup back in March
found that 45 percent of people think Obama deserves praise for making this
country “more prosperous.”
A
statement to which I’m sure a certain segment of the electorate will blatantly
despise. They’ll claim there’s no way it could be true, and that the pollster
must be flawed because they were never asked what they thought.
SOME
PEOPLE ARE just determined to complain when it comes to electoral politics.
 |
| Someday, we'll despise Donald Trump too |
Which
is something that perhaps Donald Trump ought to learn if he’s serious about
going forward with a presidential campaign.
For
all the people who now say they can’t stand the idea of Trump getting the
Republican nomination for president, there are others who are all gaga about
the idea. Yet even they will eventually turn on Trump – particularly as it
becomes more apparent that he could win.
Should
that happen, Donald could easily find himself the most despised person in the nation
– which is a concept that I’m not sure his ego could handle.
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