Today’s Loser: Half the population of Washington State
We’ve already reported that today’s Washington poll brought some scary news for supporters of the 1098 campaign—the initiative loses 53 to 42 in the survey of likely voters.
But the crosstabs show one group of people that came out solidly in favor of the initiative: Households that make less than $60,000. That’s about 43 percent of the voters that were polled (according to the U.S. Census Department, about 48 percent of households in Washington State make less than $60,000 a year).
It doesn’t take a lot of divining to figure out why the lowest income bracket surveyed would come out in favor of an initiative that increases taxes on the wealthy while lowering property taxes 20 percent. But why, if almost half of the people surveyed are so opposed to the measure, does it show such a victorious margin in the poll? The answer’s in the middle-income bracket: Those making between $60,000 and $100,000 came out starkly opposed: 55 to 36, with 9 percent undecided. That, coupled with less-fiery support from the highest bracket (the initiative loses 53 to 44), sails the initiative solidly into loser land.
The old liberal gripe about how people in the lower-income brackets vote against their own interest apparently not true here. In fact, it’s the middle-to-high income bracket—home of the liberals who complain about the duped lower classes—who are voting against the lower bracket; and themselves, for that matter. Who’s duped now?
Also of note: Only three percent of those surveyed in the highest bracket are undecided on the initiative, as opposed to nine percent of the lowest and middle bracket.
