The American public’s sour mood is in interesting contrast with many of the public’s views during the Great Depression of the 1930s, not only on economic, political and social issues, but also on the role of government in addressing them.
Americans are famous both for being weight conscious, and at the same time unable to come to terms successfully with their bloated waistlines. The same paradox has applied to how the public looks at budget deficits for a very long time.
Legislatures in eight states voted this spring to require insurers to let adult children stay on their parents’ health insurance, even after the traditional cut-off dates on a child’s 18th birthday or college graduation.