Now that budget sequestration seems inevitable, the remaining question is, who gets hurt? … We live in a period when politicians tend to see the world in a binary fashion; everything is either a one or a zero, and there is a clear winner and a clear loser in every […] Read more »
The Real Story on Public Support for Government Spending
… The Policy Mood measure, maintained by Jim Stimson, is calculated by aggregating hundreds of survey questions over time, such as from public polls and the General Social Survey. Policy mood captures shifts in the the popularity of increased government action over time. … One of the key aspects of […] Read more »
Most Say Spending Cuts Would Have Major Impact on Economy, Military
While many Americans may be resigned to seeing automatic spending cuts in the budget sequester go into effect, the public is concerned about the potential impact of the reductions. A new national survey by the Pew Research Center and The Washington Post, conducted Feb. 21-24 among 1,000 adults, finds that […] Read more »
Inaction on the Budget: The American People Are Partly to Blame
At a time when beating up on “Washington politicians” is so much in vogue, it may be time for the American people to look in the mirror. Two recent surveys from the respected, non-partisan Pew Research Center shine a spotlight on the public attitudes that contribute to political gridlock. [cont.] […] Read more »
Dire Consequences and Denial
It’s crunch time. The sequester’s automatic, across-the-board spending cuts are set to go into effect on Friday, and there is no plan as yet to stop it. … The White House favors a balanced plan that would include spending cuts and some tax increases for the wealthy. Republicans reject any […] Read more »
As Sequester Deadline Looms, Little Support for Cutting Most Programs
As the March 1 deadline for a possible budget sequester approaches, a new national survey finds limited public support for reducing spending for a range of specific programs, including defense, entitlements, education and health care. For 18 of 19 programs tested, majorities want either to increase spending or maintain it […] Read more »