Signs Of Hope

Despite all the legitimately bad news about what's going on in this country, there are already some serious signs of a conservative resurgence in the making. First, there are positive strides on how Americans view the engine of prosperity, capitalism:

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of U.S. voters say that they prefer a free market economy over a government-managed economy. That’s up seven points since December.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey also found that just 11% now prefer a government-run economy, down from 15% four months ago.

Free markets are preferred by 94% of Republicans, 64% of Democrats and 78% of those not affiliated with either major party. Adults under 30 favor free markets by a 79% to eight percent (8%) margin.

This is great, though not without problems. Another poll showed only 53% preferred capitalism over socialism. Looks like a little education is in order! And, the GOP needs to get serious about clarifying their message, both that they are in favor of free market capitalism (and actually follow through on it) and that Obama is the anti-capitalist.

Second is another poll that has shown steady improvements for our side in the recent past:

The Democrats are riding high these days, and understandably so. Yet there are persistent signs that a great many Americans are not on board with their agenda. It's too soon to diagnose a case of buyer's remorse, but none of the major initiatives of the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress--TARP II, the bailouts, the "stimulus" pork bill, the budget, cap and trade, card check--poll very well, and some poll miserably.

So it's not entirely surprising that today, for only the second time in five years, Rasmussen finds Republicans leading Democrats on the generic Congressional ballot, 41 percent to 38 percent.

It's a long way to November 2010, and much will happen between now and then that will shape the next election cycle. But already, large sectors of the public are showing doubts about the Democrats' agenda and reservations about the Democrats' sole control in Washington. (The tea parties, of course, are just one manifestation of what appears to be a widespread concern.) So far, the Democrats seem unaware of, or unconcerned about, the public's lack of enthusiasm for their agenda. Time will tell whether they will pay a price for their current hubris.

I'm pretty confident that 2010 will see a major shift in the voting public, as these polls seem to indicate already (though it is still very, very early). But, as Obama and the radical Leftist Democrats in charge continue pushing their agenda onto the country, more and more people will realize exactly who they are and what they are doing, and rebel against it. In my mind, the key question is: will the blowback happen before Obama & Co. do so much damage that America is irreparably harmed?

I'm not sure yet. I'd rather be safe than sorry, so the sooner the blowback begins to become obvious, the better for all of us.

There's my two cents.