WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans continue to name the government (18%) as
the most important U.S. problem, a distinction it has had for the past
four months.
Americans' mentions of the economy as the top problem (11%)
dropped this month, leaving it tied with jobs (10%) for second place.
Though issues such as terrorism, healthcare, race relations and immigration
have emerged among the top problems in recent polls, government, the
economy and unemployment have been the dominant problems listed by
Americans for more than a year.
The latest results are from a March 5-8 Gallup poll of 1,025 American adults.
While the ranking of the top two problems is similar to what Gallup
found in February, mentions of the economy dropped from 16% to the
current 11%. In a separate measure, Americans' confidence in the economy
had been dipping further into negative territory in late February and early March, but has been improving in recent days.
Satisfaction With Direction of U.S. at 31%
Thirty-one percent of Americans are satisfied with the way things are
going in the country. Satisfaction has been stable over the last three
months; however, it remains higher than most readings since 2007.
Satisfaction with the nation's direction had declined in 2013 and
2014 after reaching 33% during the 2012 fall presidential campaign.
Satisfaction reached an all-time low of 7% in late 2008 as the financial
crisis was underway, and an all-time high of 71% in February 1999 amid
the dot-com boom.
You would think that Congress would try and do better, knowing that their approval rating hit 9%. Alas, their arrogance is such that they undoubtably attribute this dismal score to the stupidity of the American people.
ReplyDeleteYou stated this perfectly Mick.
DeleteWhat's changed since 2007? The same people run the House and the Senate.
ReplyDeleteInsanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Einstein.
Probably says it best.
We don't really get to choose the issues we vote on. Pollsters may be somewhat neutral when it comes to conducting a poll, but like reporters, I believe they are pulled into helping "create" issues that candidates want to talk about rather than issues that make a difference to a majority of people. I believe that 30 years of stagnant and declining wages has hurt the entire country. But, such thinking is construed as class warfare. Simple answers, whether correct are not, are good enough for most people when it's time to vote.
Delete