[General Battuta]

Well I wouldn't say dumb - most people are pretty smart. What I think the thing is is that our system was designed so as to promote trust in our politicians (and arguable, promote trustworthy politicians). If a candidate says they're going to do something, the logical thing for most people to do is...trust them.

Candidate promises in campaigns generally don't have a big impact on election chances. In fact, in general, it appears that campaigns don't matter much at all, nor do the actual identities of the candidates running.

Lol. Batutta gets a kick out of people asking him to explain what RDI means apparently.

Now if RDI growth is the key variable why don't politicians just slap 99% taxes at the start of their term and lower them to nothing in the election year? That would certainly induce "RDI growth".

There's been some discussion of whether they try to do just that. But it would probably be politically infeasible.

[Mustang19]

So the economist predicts 3.2% GDP growth in 2012. What does that mean for the election?

Even if you say the Republicans are going to win I won't believe you since they've embarrassed themselves and alienated independents far too much to have a chance.

[General Battuta]

So the economist predicts 3.2% GDP growth in 2012. What does that mean for the election?

Even if you say the Republicans are going to win I won't believe you since they've embarrassed themselves and alienated independents far too much to have a chance.

I don't know what the fundamentals models are saying right now. I think the 2012 election will probably be called around Labor Day and those calls are usually very accurate.

[Grizzly]

Lol. Batutta gets a kick out of people asking him to explain what RDI means apparently.

Now if RDI growth is the key variable why don't politicians just slap 99% taxes at the start of their term and lower them to nothing in the election year? That would certainly induce "RDI growth".

I think a lot of opeople would remember 99% taxes.

[Mustang19]

I think a lot of opeople would remember 99% taxes.

But THE MODEL SHOWS RDI GROWTH PREDICTS ELECTIONS111, and Batutta agrees, so this has to be true in every single case.

I wonder, how does this model translate to countries that actually have more than two political parties? How do you know who is going to take over when RDI growth is low?