Posted on 01/02/2014 3:19:27 AM PST by markomalley
Americans enter 2014 with a profoundly negative view of their government, expressing little hope that elected officials can or will solve the nation's biggest problems, a new poll finds.
Half say America's system of democracy needs either "a lot of changes" or a complete overhaul, according to the poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Just 1 in 20 says it works well and needs no changes.
Americans, who have a reputation for optimism, have a sharply pessimistic take on their government after years of disappointment in Washington.
The percentage of Americans saying the nation is heading in the right direction hasn't topped 50 in about a decade. In the new poll, 70 percent lack confidence in the government's ability "to make progress on the important problems and issues facing the country in 2014."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The toplines for the poll are here.
This is a twisted and distorted poll, so you need to read it VERY carefully. For example, one result said that 69% of the people who responded said that sodomite issues (a/k/a "LGBT Issues") should receive a lot of Federal attention.
However, if you look at the question, as written, you see the following: For each of these problems that you mentioned, how much effort would you like the federal government to devote to solving this problem in the year 2014?
Preceding that question, the following was asked: Thinking about the problems facing the United States and the world today, which problems would you like the government to be working on in the year 2014? [Open-ended question coded. Respondents were able to list up to 10 problems.]
So, consequently, if somebody identified "the evil homosexual agenda" as a top problem, they would be grouped in with the same bucket as those who identify "LGBT equality" as a key problem. The pollster would group both as "LGBT Issues".
Then the person is asked how much effort the federal government will spend on the problem. So, again, if somebody identified the "sodomite agenda" as an important problem and thought the government should outlaw sodomy, they'd be grouped in the same bucket as somebody who believed that "marriage equality" should be constitutionally protected and dissenters should be jailed.
(Having said that, 3% of the people identified that as an issue...a total of 35 people...and then 69% of that 3% said they thought that the federal government should pay attention to it)
So when you read reports on this poll, keep the above in mind.
obammy needs fixing?
Short rope
Tall tree is what this poser deserves
This is assuming that Obama even has the right equipment down there to begin with.
Nothing is wrong with the system. What is wrong is the trash and cowards we elected to run it.
You are correct. This is a very dangerous poll result manipulation. It is a justification shot at scrapping the Constitution altogether in addition to doing the same for the Republicans in Congress. Absolutely nothing happens in a vacuum in DC.
Spayed or neutered. Either or both.
Cant fix stupid!
You beat me to the punch!!!
I remember Jesse Jackson suggesting that very thing about 6 years ago.
It's his equipment of choice on himself or someone else.
Now there's a line for all of us poor slobs who hold this president in high esteem.
I don't believe a veterinarian's surgical procedure will affect la Wookie's life, but a few young towel boys will suffer as U. S. Treasury monopoly money will no longer fill their thongs.
Perhaps Barry's new nickname should be changed to Fido. How incongruously droll since he grew up eating someone else's pet.
How many are agnostic?
I’m for the separation of government and government!
Poll: “Americans have little faith in government”.........
Now that is one poll I would agree with.
I don’t think American Indians have much faith in government either.
No one should have any faith in government. Faith implies worship, and the state is not to be worshipped.
If you enter into an agreement, you negotiate “in good faith”.
That includes things like eventual collection of the social security money you paid in redeemed at the retirement age set when you entered into the agreement.
Also includes the reasonable expectation that you will be able to draw your retirement money without tax penalty when you reach “age”.
Bill Clinton retroactively raised taxes. That was not good faith. People operated one way and the rules were changed AFTER the fact.
Eaiser to get criminal convictions too if you retroactively create laws and prosecution.
Why is this news? Is anyone surprised that faith in government is low when the politicians involved all use “here’s why you should hate the other guy” every day?
I’m not calling for s’mores cooking, kumbaya singing on the House / Senate floor - just pointing out the obvious:
When the politicians spend all day yelling about how evil the other side is and the media spends all day reinforcing it, the people will have little faith in the government.
Sorry, but election returns do not show a lack of faith in government by the American people, but the contrary.
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