BillCosby

Title
US on wrong track, say 81 per cent of Americans

Link
US on wrong track, say 81 per cent of Americans - Americas, World - The Independent
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Excerpt

By Leonard Doyle in Washington
Saturday, 5 April 2008

More Americans than ever before are pessimistic about the state of their country and its economy.

Eighty-one per cent of them now believe "things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track," a dramatic rise from the 69 per cent who felt that way a year ago. The results of the New York Times/CBS poll show a near doubling of the dissatisfaction level recorded when the question was first asked in 2002.

Whether Democrats or Republicans, men or women, city dwellers or country people, university graduates or unskilled workers they are virtually unanimous in their opinion that the US is worse off than five years ago. Just 4 per cent said it was better off.

More grim news greeted the country yesterday when it was announced 80,000 jobs had been lost in March, the third consecutive month of rising unemployment, and a another stark sign that the country is now mired in recession.

The US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke admitted in testimony on Wednesday that a recession is now possible. He too is behind the curve of public opinion and market sentiment. Some 66 per cent of those polled say the US is already in a recession. The sputtering economy and insecure job market remains the top concern for Americans – 37 per cent, while the war in Iraq most concerns 15 per cent of those polled. This is a complete reversal of earlier surveys, and reflects confidence that violence in Iraq is finally waning, giving the US the opportunity so many are hoping for to finally bring the troops home.

Americans are also becoming increasingly populist in their assessment of the mortgage crisis, saying that the government should help out individuals but not financial institutions. The overwhelming majority do not want the government to help out the banks now in trouble from the sub- prime crisis, even if it could prevent a deeper recession.

The poll also found that Americans blame government officials for the crisis more than they blame the banks or greedy home buyers who got in over their heads. Forty per cent said regulators were mostly to blame, while 28 per cent blamed lenders. Only 14 per cent blamed the borrowers.

The deep-seated unhappiness bodes ill for Republicans in this year's elections. But since Democrats have controlled the House and Senate since last year, they also face the risk that unhappy voters will chose to "throw the bums out" and get rid of political incumbents. Americans now hold George Bush in such contempt that only 21 per cent say they approve of how he is handling the economy – his lowest rating to date. Mr Bush's overall job approval rating stands at just 28 per cent.

He may be America's first leader with an MBA, but commentators say he has never seemed as detached from the country's troubles as during the current economic meltdown.

In February, Mr Bush said he was not even aware that US petrol prices were rising to the unheard-of price of $4 (£2) a gallon. And just over a week ago, even as he wagged his finger at Wall Street and warned against a "massive government intervention in the housing markets", the administration was working feverishly to stave off a market meltdown by bailing out the investment bank Bear Stearns.

Mr Bush and leaders of both parties are now scrambling to jump-start the economy. Their big initiative, sending tax rebate cheques of up to $1,200 to millions of people this spring, is seen as a temporary measure. Consumers are so in hock with mortgages and credit cards that few expect the rebate to provide a much-needed economic jolt to the economy.

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Comment:

SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror

Free Parking

Wow, 81% is a lot.

BillCosby

Yep............ & it would seem that 81% would contain quite a few repubs...........

mcbush courting the politics of the past just might come round & bite him in the ass............

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Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror

TrueBlueAmerican

This country is so divided that people can say "this country is heading in the wrong direction" to a pollster, and have completely opposite reasons why they believe that.

Luckily there are more good people who believe this country is heading in the wrong direction for the right reasons, and they will voice their opinions come the election when they make Barack Hussein Obama President elect of the United States of America.

That 19% of people who believe this country is heading in the right direction give me hope that my assertions will be correct. Most of that 19% will be right wingers.

BillCosby

Could you explain what you mean here......???

Ppl think the country is going in the wrong direction.. More than ever believe this.........

__________________
Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror

TrueBlueAmerican

Take the War in Iraq for example.

Some people think this country is heading in the wrong direction because hoidy toidy liberals want to cut and run from the fight and withdrawal our troops from fighting al Qaida.

At the same time, people think this country is heading in the wrong direction because the right wingers are at it again, as usual, in propagating wars which includes our staying in Iraq.

As for 'good people', its whatever my definition of a good person is; far too complicated to get into much detail but simple litmus tests on certain issues can define a good person. Start with the easy ones, torture etc, and so forth.

BillCosby

Well you can make out of it what you wish I guess.........

You may wish to "over look" some of the details though....... Like how that # corresponds to other #'s.

Like these: Americans now hold George Bush in such contempt that only 21 per cent say they approve of how he is handling the economy – his lowest rating to date. Mr Bush's overall job approval rating stands at just 28 per cent.

__________________
Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror

TrueBlueAmerican

28% apporval rating and yet this coming election between Bush3 and Obama is still up in the air.

If these number meant that 79% of Americans reject the right wing ideals of Bush and McCain, then the entire Republican Party, and especially John McCain would be thouroughly repudiated, but that is certainly not the case.

BillCosby

It is now.............. SO!!!!!!!! Once the dems have just one candidate there will be more of a united front against the next great satan...............

Calm down there... that dose not necessarily mean any of that....... Don't build strawmen here please..............

One can certainly be a repub & not agree w/ everything the party does or what bush2 does.......... Just like anyone else in any other party can........... There are lots of repubs not happy about the war for various reasons & they want out.......... Or are you denying that???

__________________
Preventive war is not war!!!!Counter-terror is not terror

TrueBlueAmerican

For both our sakes, I hope your right. People like us will be the first to be sent to the reeducation camps if we dont unite.

I guess we can revisit this topic after the primaries are over to see what happens. Its my opinion that most 'disgruntled Republicans" will go home to roost and vote for McCain, but im also optomistic about the number of disgruntled Republicans who will be voting for Obama BECAUSE THEY LIKE HIM AND NOT because of A CLINTON-LIMBAUGH strategy.