polls

Poll: 14 Percent Approval Rating for Congress

by Ryan Young on October 5, 2011 · 1 comment

in Deregulate to Stimulate, Economy, Politics as Usual

The Washington Post does not paint a pretty picture:

For most it’s not just a casual dislike of Congress: Sixty-two percent say they “strongly disapprove” of congressional job performance. An additional 20 percent “somewhat” disapprove.

Only 3 percent of Americans said they “strongly approve” of the performance of lawmakers on Capitol Hill — essentially as low as possible, given the poll’s margin of error of four percentage points.

Congress is doing all it can to placate people who want it to do something, anything to help the economy. The trouble is that those somethings and anythings have been spectacularly ineffective.

Lawmakers need to do something about their do-something bias. Instead of more bailouts, financial regulations, stimuli, cash-for-clunkers, jobs bills, and the like, Congress should try a deregulatory stimulus. Besides stimulating the economy, it would likely stimulate approval ratings, too.

Polls Are Useful

by Ryan Young on April 26, 2011

in Politics as Usual

A USA Today/Gallup poll finds that:

[O]nly 38% of Americans say Obama definitely was born in the USA, and 18% say he probably was. Fifteen percent say he probably was born in another country, and 9% say he definitely was born elsewhere.

Republicans are inclined to say the president was born abroad by 43%-35%.

What makes this poll useful? As Oscar Wilde once explained, “By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.”

Poll shows little faith in government, media

by Michael Fumento on November 3, 2009

in Odds & Ends

A new Harvard poll, in a ranking of 13 leadership categories, found Congress and the media ranked 11th and 12th respectively. They probably would have been even lower had there been a category for used car salesmen.

The Starry-Eyed 37 Percent

by Ryan Young on September 2, 2009

in Culture, Healthcare, Politics as Usual, Zeitgeist

Some time ago I said that President Bush’s chronically low approval ratings were a good thing. Evidence of widespread skepticism about politicians. Or at least one of them.

This is why I welcome today’s news that 52% of people — a clear majority — have an unfavorable view of Congress. There is still much to do, though. Even after enduring two simultaneous land wars in Asia, record spending, record deficits, a housing crisis primarily of congress’ creation, bank bailouts, cap-and-trade, and cash for clunkers, 37% of Americans still retain a favorable view of Congress.

Jeez, what’s it take? Maybe health care?