For the first time since Barack Obama took office in 2009, deficit reduction has slipped as a policy priority among the public. Overall, 63% say reducing the budget deficit should be a top priority for Congress and the president this year, down from 72% a year ago. … As in […] Read more »
The Tea Party and the Hammock Theory of Poverty
The increased focus on inequality has shifted the conversation away from deficit/austerity mania and towards a discussion of what government should be doing to boost the economy and protect people from economic harm. And it’s also prompted good new polling that goes deep into public views of the economy, the […] Read more »
Most See Inequality Growing, but Partisans Differ over Solutions
There is broad public agreement that economic inequality has grown over the past decade. But as President Obama prepares for Tuesday’s State of the Union, where he is expected to unveil proposals for dealing with inequality and poverty, there are wide partisan differences over how much the government should – […] Read more »
Americans’ Satisfaction With Economy Sours Most Since 2001
Americans are now more satisfied with many issues than they were 13 years ago, but they are significantly less satisfied with the economy and the role the U.S. plays in world affairs. The 40-percentage-point drop in Americans’ satisfaction with the economy, along with a 21-point drop in the world affairs […] Read more »
Inequality: Big problem, poor message
… A rather sterile debate has emerged over whether Americans “care” about inequality. There is little doubt our fellow citizens recognize the existence of inequality and that large numbers wish the problem would be redressed. From a message perspective, that’s not the point. Other questions loom larger. Is the concept […] Read more »
To understand GOP’s poverty challenge, start with Republican voters
Republican stars such as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have launched a full-court press to convince the public that the GOP has the right policies to address persistent poverty. … In my new book on issue ownership, I show that parties own […] Read more »