Government isn’t a business

“Running government like a business” is a mantra for many politicians, particularly Republicans. Two GOP governors who are trying to become president, Ohio’s John Kasich and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, made that appeal explicit as they transformed their state economic development agencies into “private” entities. The results suggest they know precious […] Read more »

Trust Differs Most by Ideology for Church, Police, Presidency

In the U.S., liberals and conservatives report markedly different levels of confidence in nearly every key institution Gallup measures, reflecting the general polarization that typifies the country today. The confidence gap — the difference between groups in levels of confidence for a particular institution — is largest for the presidency […] Read more »

Democrats Need to Give Voters a Reason to Participate

Democrats are well positioned leading into next year’s elections if they give their base, particularly unmarried women, a reason to turn out and vote. As this research demonstrates, the promise of an agenda that addresses the real economy of everyday Americans and—this is an equally important piece—also provides them with […] Read more »

Opinions on Free Trade in Flux

According to The Wall Street Journal/NBC News polling, since November 2014 public opinion on whether free trade with foreign countries helps or hurts the US have been in flux, corresponding with a national debate over a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership pact with 11 other select Asian and Pacific Rim countries that […] Read more »