That Which Must Not Be Spoken

[don]

January 15, 2014

Government Itself Still Cited as Top U.S. Problem

Narrowly leads the economy, unemployment, healthcare

by Lydia Saad


PRINCETON, NJ -- 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%. No other issue is mentioned by as much as 10% of the public; however, the federal budget deficit or debt comes close, at 8%.

Note the top 4 - where's FIRE, baby . . .

[wayiwalk]

Re: That Which Must Not Be Spoken

Good to know the people know "it's not the economy, stupid"


Now if only our "leaders" would figure it out.

[lektrode]

Re: That Which Must Not Be Spoken

Good to know the people know "it's not the economy, stupid"


Now if only our "leaders" would figure it out.

ayuh.
course if one connects the dots on this one - since most of those, if not pert near ALL of em are things the .gov is directly 'in charge' of - and i use the term loosely...

one reaches the conclusion that 90%+ of "our problems" = its the .gov and 'the POLITICAL economy stupid'

the banksters/oligarchs/buraCRATS only get to get-away with what they do because of the FAILURE of the .gov - aka The Beltway - to function.

and its only the POLITICAL CLASS that benefits from it - the 'rich/1%/oligarchs' would in any case get away with what they do, BUT for a functioning .gov that USED-TO WORK FOR we, the people....

now ?

not so much...

its the political class - THAT IS .... well.... ya know what i'd like to say - but its THEM in the political class, whos getting away-with whats screwing The Rest of US

and anybody who tells ya that TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS IS A BAD IDEA?

they're part of the problem TOO!

[peakishmael]

Re: That Which Must Not Be Spoken

Nonsense.

There's no link to the poll itself, and I didn't bother looking it up, but if you add up all the numbers, it comes to 110%. Now it looks like they may have categorized people's open-ended responses, so MAYBE that's how you get 110% responses to "what is the #1 problem". So it's a little fishy already.

Then look at the categorized responses. #1 and #5 (deficit/debt) are the only categories that seem DIRECTLY related to government dissatisfaction. That adds to 37%.

But if you add up all the responses that focus on economic issues, WITHOUT blaming the government, I get

18% economy in general
16% jobs/unemployment
4% lack of money
4% gap between rich and poor
4% poverty

= 46% citing economic issues.

And amongst those citing "the government", there are no doubt some on both sides of the political spectrum. Whereas those citing economic issues are all basically complaining about the same thing (joblessness, low wages, etc.).

So how the heck does the author conclude that "the government" is people's #1 concern?

Nonsense.

[Forrest]

Re: That Which Must Not Be Spoken

Nonsense.

There's no link to the poll itself, and I didn't bother looking it up, but if you add up all the numbers, it comes to 110%. Now it looks like they may have categorized people's open-ended responses, so MAYBE that's how you get 110% responses to "what is the #1 problem". So it's a little fishy already.

Then look at the categorized responses. #1 and #5 (deficit/debt) are the only categories that seem DIRECTLY related to government dissatisfaction. That adds to 37%.

But if you add up all the responses that focus on economic issues, WITHOUT blaming the government, I get

18% economy in general
16% jobs/unemployment
4% lack of money
4% gap between rich and poor
4% poverty

= 46% citing economic issues.

And amongst those citing "the government", there are no doubt some on both sides of the political spectrum. Whereas those citing economic issues are all basically complaining about the same thing (joblessness, low wages, etc.).

So how the heck does the author conclude that "the government" is people's #1 concern?

Nonsense.

Because for once, Republicans, Independants and Democrats are only a few percent away from each other in agreeing that government is the number one problem...and about 35% of each political group thinks so. Is is unusual to get a poll with that kind of result.

[peakishmael]

Re: That Which Must Not Be Spoken

Because for once, Republicans, Independants and Democrats are only a few percent away from each other in agreeing that government is the number one problem...and about 35% of each political group thinks so. Is is unusual to get a poll with that kind of result.

I don't argue with the assertion that faith in government has declined, across the political spectrum.

I argue that since 46% is greater than 37%, concern about the government is second (not first), behind economic concerns - based on the poll itself, which has been very sloppily reported.

[Forrest]

Re: That Which Must Not Be Spoken

It's surprising that the poll even surfaced in the media...the poll was very clear on what people thought was wrong across the Left, Independents, and the Right, and the media is more interested in keeping that sort of stuff from the average joe than announcing it.