America's Dysfunctional Government Considered Larger Problem Than the Economy...

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny

It is not at all surprising that this week's Gallop Poll shows the American people now view the federal government as a larger problem than the economy. This at the same time President Obama's favorably hits a new low according to a recent AP Poll... "53 percent unhappy with his performance and 37 percent approving of it. "

PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans are now more likely to name dysfunctional government as the most important problem facing the country than to name any other specific problem. Thirty-three percent of Americans cite dissatisfaction with government and elected representatives as the nation's top issue, the highest such percentage in Gallup's trend dating back to 1939. Dysfunctional government now eclipses the economy (19%), unemployment (12%), the deficit (12%), and healthcare (12%) as the nation's top problem.

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Americans' mentions of either the economy in general or jobs in particular as the nation's top problem had already been declining in 2013. Both issues dropped further as top-of-mind concerns in the Oct. 3-6 survey, conducted in the midst of the U.S. government shutdown.

At the same time, the percentage of Americans who mention some aspect of government leadership as the nation's top problem has doubled, 33% this month from 16% last month. This almost certainly reflects the current upheaval in Washington and party leaders' inability to agree on a way to fund the government or avoid a possible government default. October is the first time since 2008 when an economic issue was not at the top of Americans' list of most important problems.

Democrats (36%) and independents (33%) are somewhat more likely than Republicans (23%) to mention dysfunctional government as the most important problem facing the country, perhaps reflecting partisans' differing views about the role and importance of government. {Read More}

Yeppers, the country definitely has it's problems. Yet the sides refuse to talk with each others. There are those who still refuse to recognize our political parties have a shared responsibility for this. Perhaps one day this will change. But given the present political environment it may be a very long time.

Via: Memeorandum