Americans are now more likely to name dysfunctional government as the most important problem facing the country than to name any other specific problem. Thirty-three percent of Americans cite dissatisfaction with government and elected representatives as the nation’s top issue, the highest such percentage in Gallup’s trend dating back to […] Read more »
DC ignores jobs and economy
There are two interrelated myths of politics today that drive me crazy. The first is that Republicans spend all their time catering to Wall Street and the financiers of the economy. The other fairy tale is that politicians in both parties are guided by poll results. Neither of these legends […] Read more »
Syria Emerges as a Top Problem, but Trails Economy
As the prospect for armed U.S. intervention looms, 8% of Americans now believe the “situation in Syria” is the most important problem facing the U.S., marking the first time Syria has made the list. Nonetheless, the economy in general remains the No. 1 U.S. problem according to Americans, followed by […] Read more »
More Nonwhites Than Whites Say Jobs the Top Issue
One in four Americans name the economy as the most important problem facing the country today, followed by unemployment and jobs at 19%, and dissatisfaction with government at 17%. Nonwhites (25%) are much more likely than whites (16%) to say unemployment is the most important problem; this issue ranks behind […] Read more »
President Obama’s Economic Speech and Public Opinion
President Obama’s hour-long speech at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, on Wednesday was a major effort on the part of his administration to focus attention on what White House Adviser Dan Pfeiffer called “the most important issue facing the country” — namely the economy. Pfeiffer is right on that count. […] Read more »
Economy Remains a Diminished Top Problem
The economy remains at the top of Gallup’s “Most Important Problem” list in July, with 23% of Americans naming it as the most important problem facing the country today, similar to the 25% who mentioned it in June. Unemployment or jobs ranks a close second at 19%, followed by healthcare […] Read more »