National polls show that Republicans would take the brunt of the blame for a dive over the so-called fiscal cliff. A Washington Post/Pew Research Survey released this week found that a majority of the public (53 percent) would point the finger at Republicans if Congress fails to reach a deal […] Read more »
Approaching the cliff
Voters often approach policy issues from a very different angle than do Washington elites. So it is with the fiscal cliff. Everyone thinks the debt and deficit are serious. Everyone thinks the problem should be fixed. The differences emerge on the “how.” While Washington fixates on which programs to cut […] Read more »
Results don’t jibe with economics
… There has always been a strong linkage between economics and politics. “Up” cycles helped incumbents. “Down” cycles hurt them. But in 2012 we saw most all incumbents returned, despite the plunge. Even now, as the politicians fiddle toward non-resolution of the so-called fiscal cliff, thereby threatening deepened recession, the […] Read more »
Why it’s hard to replace the ‘fiscal cliff’ metaphor
Writers on economics have been talking since the election about why the “fiscal cliff” metaphor is misleading. Alternative metaphors have been offered like the fiscal hill, fiscal curb, and fiscal showdown, as if one metaphor could easily be replaced by another that makes more sense of the real situation. But […] Read more »
Americans Widely Prefer Compromise on Fiscal Cliff
Sixty-two percent of Americans would like to see federal government leaders compromise on an agreement to avoid the “fiscal cliff” budget measures set to go into effect next month, more than twice the 25% who want leaders to stick to their principles on spending cuts and tax increases. … Americans […] Read more »
Pessimism About Fiscal Cliff Deal, Republicans Still Get More Blame
With Washington making little apparent progress in efforts to avoid going over the “fiscal cliff,” public opinion about the situation has changed little over the past three weeks. … Four-in-ten (40%) expect that the president and congressional Republicans will reach a deal by Jan. 1 to prevent automatic tax increases […] Read more »