Campaigning on financial transparency will win elections.
America, is in fact, hungry for it.
The highly respected George Washington University Battleground Poll, March 16-20, 2014 asked a simple question:
Would you be more likely or less likely to support a candidate who was committed to providing financial transparency for government spending so you could see how tax dollars are being spent?
More likely/strongly ........................................................ 66%
And is that strongly or More likely/somewhat...................26%
More likely/ UNSURE.......................................................... 2%
NO DIFFERENCE.................................................................. 1%
Less likely/somewhat ........................................................ 3%
Less likely/strongly ........................................................... 1%
I can't remember in over twenty years of politics a number that is as significant. It is also worth noting that literally no one is against a candidate who campaigns on giving people the 'right to know' where their tax dollars are being spent.
This result is consistent with other surveys that reveal that people's trust in their government is low. Ask yourself this question: "Do you feel like you are getting more for your tax dollars today than in the past?" We hear daily that American students are struggling in school, roads have more potholes, and government services seem to be less customer focused.
Individuals seeking office for the first time will have a great issue on which to campaign. Incumbents can stay ahead of the 'right to know' movement by embracing technology which gives citizens the ability, really for the first time, to literally see individual expenses in context and in an organized fashion (and not allow their challenger to defeat them on this issue).
And you don't have to have a specific party or ideological label to embrace the political benefits. Subgroups in the poll reinforce why this is such a powerful political issue.
Remember, these numbers reflect the More Likely/Strongly, the most intense answer offered in the survey. Adding in More Likely/Somewhat (which gives you voter directional intentions) moves these already strong numbers into the polling stratosphere.
Race.................................More Likely/Strongly
Black/African American 63%
White 66%
Hispanic/Latino73%
Party Identification...........More Likely/Strongly
Independent67%
Democrat 63%
Republican 70%
Ideology............................More Likely/Strongly
Conservative 67%
Liberal 67%
Labor Background..............More Likely/Strongly
Union Household67%
Non-Union Household66%
Martial Status......................More Likely/Strongly
Single64%
Married 67%
No longer Married68%
Economic Class.....................More Likely/Strongly
Middle Class 66%
Low Income64%
Upper Class82%
Economic Class - Marital Status...........More Likely/Strongly
Middle class white married65%
Middle class African American married74%
Middle class Hispanic married74%
Geographic Areas of America..............More Likely/Strongly
Northeast66%
Midwest58%
South68%
South Central68%
Central Plains59%
Mountain States80%
West 70%
California70%
Florida74%
Texas65%
New York64%
Gubernatorial Election Status by State...More Likely/Strongly
GOP held seat up64%
Democratic seat up67%
No Gubernatorial election69%
Likelihood of Voting in Upcoming Election...........More Likely/Strongly
Extremely likely (to vote) 70%
Very likely (to vote) 60%
Somewhat likely (to vote) 63%
I could stop right here. The depth of support for financial transparency speaks for itself. Campaign and enact it -- you win.
Letting people know where their tax dollars are being spent will also help overcome the partisan edge of today's politics. It will help elected leaders make better decisions.
We now have the technology to make real-time transparency possible.
This poll (and others) reveal how interested Americans are in knowing where their money is being spent and what results are being achieved. And the strength of the numbers means the interest is strong and important.
Those politicians who embrace this hunger for knowledge by campaigning on this issue will, themselves, be embraced on Election Day with overwhelming victory at the polls.
Let the campaign begin!