Public concern over the debt and deficit, already extensive, is only likely to increase as the so-called “fiscal cliff” approaches at the end of the year. Yet among a dozen specific options for reducing the debt and deficit, only two win majority approval from the public – raising taxes on […] Read more »
Only 22% Of Americans Think They Are In The 47%
… The most recent YouGov/Economist poll asked, “Do you pay federal income taxes?” Seventy-eight percent said they do. Given that about 54 percent of households pay federal income tax that suggests roughly 24 percent of respondents report that they pay federal income taxes, but do not. … What this means […] Read more »
Voters unaware of President Obama’s tax cuts
President Obama, on a recent campaign trip through the crucial swing state of Virginia, recited an assertion he made again during Wednesday’s debate: that he has cut taxes for the typical American family by $3,600. That is news to many voters — among them Don Woodson, a landscaper loading cases […] Read more »
The Real Referendum
Republicans came into this campaign believing that it would be a referendum on President Obama, and that still-high unemployment would hand them victory on a silver platter. But given the usual caveats — a month can be a long time in politics, it’s not over until the votes are actually […] Read more »
Public Criticism of Romney’s Campaign Grows
Public criticism of Mitt Romney’s race for the White House has risen sharply, with six in 10 Americans expressing a negative opinion of how he’s handling his campaign and a majority responding unfavorably to his comments on people who don’t pay income taxes. [cont.] Gary Langer, ABC News Read more »
Five myths about the 47 percent
As Mitt Romney recently noted, about 47 percent of U.S. households do not pay federal income taxes. Some see this as evidence of a welfare state run amok. Others think that gimmicks and loopholes let both rich and poor Americans duck their taxes. Let’s correct some misconceptions about about this […] Read more »