A number of our elected representatives have somberly proclaimed that there are no winners from the recent government shutdown and near-default. These utterances have not prevented pundits from weighing in with various lists of “winners” and “losers” anyway. In many instances, of course, it takes a significant period of time to determine the long-term consequences of these types of occurrences. So most efforts to assess the implications of the recent unpleasantness for all parties concerned are premature at this point.
I am willing to say, however, that the American people, whose interests we monitor and represent with our Gallup polling, are both losers and winners from the shutdown — at this juncture. [cont.]
Frank Newport, Gallup