Jobs vs. Deficit — Where the Public Stands
When President Obama goes before a joint session of Congress on Thursday to lay out a plan for spurring jobs creation, one of the political and policy dynamics at work will be the tension that animated the debate in Washington all this year: the push to reduce federal spending and the government’s deficit competing against whether some kind of stimulus is needed to deal with a faltering recovery and the stubbornly-high unemployment rate.
Obama Leadership Image Takes a Hit, GOP Ratings Decline
For the first time in his presidency, significantly more Americans disapprove than approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president and and the margin of strong disapproval over strong approval has widened. But the public is also profoundly discontented with the political leadership of both parties, angry at the federal government and dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country.
Wealth Gaps and Perception Gaps: A Paradox of the Great Recession
When the real estate market melted down, those hit hardest by the sharp drop in household wealth were blacks and Hispanics. But even while their wealth was being decimated, the political reaction among the nation’s minorities has been surprisingly muted.
Public Wants Debt Ceiling Compromise, Expects a Deal Before Deadline
The public overwhelmingly favors a compromise in the debt ceiling standoff, with 68% saying they want lawmakers to agree to a deal even if they disagree with it. Republicans overall favor a compromise by a small majority, but those who identify with the tea party movement say their representatives should stick to their principles.
The Debt Ceiling Showdown – Where the Public Stands
The nation is headed toward a possible government default on Aug. 2 if no agreement is reached to raise the debt ceiling.
In Two Years of Economic Recovery, Women Lost Jobs, Men Found Them
During the sluggish two-year recovery from the Great Recession, men have gained 768,000 jobs while women have lost 218,000 jobs. This new gender gap in employment trends represents a sharp turnabout from the recession itself, when men lost more than twice as many jobs as women. The current recovery is the first since 1970 in which women have lost jobs while men have gained them.
U.S. Seen as Among the Greatest Nations, But Not Superior to All Others
Despite the struggling economy and broad dissatisfaction with national conditions, the public has a positive view of the United States’ global standing. But more think that the U.S. is one of the greatest countries in the world than say it stands above all other countries.
Pessimism about National Economy Rises, Personal Financial Views Hold Steady
Opinions about the state of the economy remain grim, and President Obama has lost the bump in approval he received after the killing of Osama bin Laden. For all the negativity, however, there has been little change in people’s assessments of their personal financial situations.
More Blame Wars than Domestic Spending or Tax Cuts for Nation’s Debt
Public concern about the budget deficit has increased since the end of last year. Proposals to reduce it by raising taxes on the rich and corporations are popular.
More Concern about Raising Debt Limit than Government Default
By a 48%-to-35% margin, Americans say their greater concern is that raising the debt limit would lead to higher government spending and a larger national debt than that not raising the limit would force the government into default and hurt the nation’s economy.
