Insecurity

Carl M. Cannon, Washington bureau chief for RealClearPolitics, writes today on the topic of our insecure electorate. His main theme is that a combination of factors is troubling Americans: illegal immigration and governmental unwillingness to do much about it, terrorism and government refusal to admit the threat thereof, general governmental ineptitude in foreign affairs, urban unrest including attacks on police, and an economy that is very biased in favor of the few.

Even before the recent attacks in Belgium, polling at the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 revealed that security concerns have overtaken the economy as the dominant issue in voters’ minds. A survey done for Third Way, a moderate political group, revealed that 29 percent of Americans were worried about national security/terrorism—nearly twice as many who listed the economy as their top priority.

These numbers fluctuate, depending on the proximity to a major terrorist event and by how the question is worded. But the theme has remained constant. In late January, the Gallup Poll found that 23 percent of voters listed national security/terrorism/foreign affairs as their chief concern, compared to 17 percent who named the economy.

Third Way asked Americans the following question:

Looking ahead to the next few years, which party do you think will do a better job of protecting the country from international terrorism and military threats - the Republican Party or the Democratic Party?

I'll bet you are not surprised by their findings. More Americans chose the Republican Party by a margin of 52% to 36%, with 12% having no opinion.

Translation for the numerically challenged: an absolute majority of Americans believe Republicans will do a better job of keeping them safe. From my lofty perch overlooking the harbor and city of Honolulu, I call that good news.