The voter is grappling with an economic landscape that has seen income inequality increase, with the elites enjoying prosperity; while the middle class hemorrhages wealth and loses income.
The economic variable is the most prominent short-term factor which affects the voter however, equally pressing is the "long-term predisposition" (Miller, W. & Niemi, R. 2002. P. 170) of the voter concerning; "an egalitarian/free-market values dimension that contrasts egalitarian or socialist vs. laissez-faire or free-market values" (Miller, W. & Niemi, R. 2002. P. 172). Voters in Europe and The U.S. are confronted with this polemical; the social democracy governed by a redistribution mentality, or the allure of capitalism and wealth creation despite its penchant for gyrations and economic uncertainty. The coming elections have at their core these fundamental choices based on both short-term and long-term factors, yet will voters have the ability, tools, or...
The traditional party affiliation as determinant in electoral prediction has turned, with the new dynamic the independent voter who desires a pragmatism and common sense bipartisan solution. While self- described Republicans or Democrats vote tend to vote for their own candidate based on affiliation, this independent is far more likely to be swayed by the short-term factor as opposed to the long-term predisposition; "pre-determined factors have been overrated and more immediate factors-issues, candidates, and election campaigns-have been underrated" (Miller, W. & Niemi, R. 2002. P. 179).
These short-term factors which in this election cycle are without question: economic growth, government debt, and jobs in Europe and the U.S. are presented to voters via the media's
