There are enough people guessing what the president will do. This is about what he almost certainly won’t do, but what I would like him to do. The president has material power without the Congress, and personally, I would like to see him use it. … Beyond material power, the […] Read more »
What Americans Want to See Addressed in the State of the Union Speech
President Barack Obama makes his annual State of the Union address Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the House of Representatives in Washington. Although the mandate for what the president’s report to Congress should contain (or even how and when it should be delivered) is not specified in the Constitution, most presidents […] Read more »
Deficit Reduction Declines as Policy Priority
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 »
Americans Rate Economy as Top Priority for Government
Americans have a distinct sense of priorities for issues facing the nation in the next year, with more saying it is extremely or very important for the president and Congress to address the economy than any other issue. CONT. Frank Newport & Joy Wilke, Gallup Read more »
Government Itself Still Cited as Top Problem
Americans start the new year with a variety of national concerns on their minds. Although none is dominant, the government, at 21%, leads the list of what Americans consider the most important problem facing the country. The economy closely follows at 18%, and then unemployment/jobs and healthcare, each at 16%. […] 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 »