AP Poll: A year later, worries linger on economy (70% don't trust the government)

Associated Press ^ | September 14, 2009 | Jim Kuhnhenn

[Zakeet]

One year after Wall Street teetered on the brink of collapse, seven out of 10 Americans lack confidence the federal government has taken safeguards to prevent another financial industry meltdown, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.

Even more — 80 percent — rate the condition of the economy as poor and a majority worry about their own ability to make ends meet. The pessimistic outlook sets the stage for President Barack Obama as he attempts to portray the financial sector as increasingly confident and stable and presses Congress to act on new banking regulations.

The public sentiment also poses a challenge to central elements of Obama's governing agenda. Half of those surveyed said deficit reduction should be a national priority over increased spending on health care, education or alternative energy.

"I know a lot of people who don't have health care and really can't afford it," said Judy Purkey, a 57-year-old grandmother from Morristown, Tenn., who has raised four grandchildren and is living on disability payments. But she added: "The economy is so bad. You've heard the expression getting blood out of a turnip? — Well, that's what's going on."

[Snip]

Only one out of five surveyed said Obama bore responsibility for the recession; 54 percent blamed former President George W. Bush and 19 percent blamed former President Bill Clinton.

Financial institutions, however, bore the brunt of the criticism — 79 percent of those surveyed said banks and lenders that made risky loans deserve quite a bit of the blame. Sixty-eight percent held the federal government responsible for not adequately regulating banks and 65 percent blamed borrowers who could not afford to repay loans.

[Zakeet]

For some strange reason, the vast majority of Americans don't trust the government

[rovenstinez]

Probably the other 30% of the Americans work for Acorn.

[Dallas59]

Should we trust that %70 quote?

[dfwgator]

67% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

[lonestar67]

I don’t remember this item ever being reported:

“In October, then-President Bush pushed a $700 billion financial rescue package through Congress on the condition that only half could be spent without further congressional authority. Obama, upon becoming president in January, succeeded in getting the second amount released, despite growing apprehension among lawmakers about the wisdom of such a bailout.”

Bush did exercise fiscal restraint. The Congress and the Democrats were profoundly committed to higher spending. The deficit was going down until the Dems were elected in 2007.

[bigbob]

Well 30% is high, but approximates the number of people who identify themselves as “liberal”. Just sayin...

[Uncle Ike]

If this is what AP came out with, after massaging the numbers as best they could to make Obama look good - I wonder how bad the numbers really are.....

[SE Mom]

that same 30% don’t believe we landed on the moon and think WWII was between the US and USSR...

[Le Chien Rouge]

‘Only one out of five surveyed said Obama bore responsibility for the recession; 54 percent blamed former President George W. Bush’

As time passes and the economy continues to shed jobs, expect the blame to progressively shift toward Obama.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Should we trust that %70 quote?

Yeah, sounds to low to me.....

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Joe Friday has a few words for Obama.....

http://www.kfi640.com/pages/Multimedia.html?feed=337183&article=5998892

[kittymyrib]

Don’t believe your lyin’ eyes, America. Dear Leader has led us through to the Promised Land, and if anyone can promise, he can.

[jeltz25]

Good point. As of Election Day or even Inauguration Day 100% of the people balmed Bush for the recession. He’s down to around 50%. Obama is gaining and Bush is declining.

The GOP got 46% of the vote and 22 states when 100% blamed Bush for the recession and 0% blamed Obama, the margin is much narrower now. We’d probably do muc hbetter now that 20%+ blame Obama. In November 100% blamed Bush and the GOP, now more than 40% blame Obama or Clinton, so 40% blame dems. Again, a much narorwer margin.

Those are both good trends.

[jeltz25]

Also, the article totally buries the lede. Here’s some other poll results they could have reported but didn’t:

In January when Obama was sworn in 47% said they were dems or dem-leaning vs 27% who said they were GOP or GOP-leaing for a +20 margin. Now, 39% say they’re dem and 33% say they’re Republican for a +6 margin, a decline of 70% in pro-dem party id. Dem party id by itself has declined by around 20%. They could have highlighted that, but they didn’t.

They could have mentioned that around July 4th the same poll had people saying the economy was poor by a 79-15 margin and now they say it’s poor by an 80-16 margin. They didn’t mention that.

In July people had confidence in the stimulus by a 42-58 margin, now it’s down to a 40-59 margin, including close to a 15% increase in those who are not confident at all.

Interesting what they choose to report and not report on.