With Congress home for its spring break, and the holidays now upon us, these facts on how the Country feels may be of interest:
· President Obama’s approval rating is at its lowest point in 16 months—48% disapproval;
· 46% blame the Republicans for the sequester;
· 71% think government officials should compromise to find solutions;
· Six in ten Americans believe the Country is moving in the wrong direction. In December, 55% saw the Country on the wrong path;
· 48% of Americans believe their personal family finances will remain about the same. Note: The proportion who think their personal finances will deteriorate has grown. Last March, only 14% thought their family finances would get worse;
· Americans are divided on what should be cut. For example:
- 65% would rather increase revenues such as taxes and fees than experience cuts to education spending.
- 60% would prefer to increase taxes and fees than cut Social Security spending. - 57% would prefer increasing revenues than reduce spending for Medicare.
- 53% would rather increase revenues such as taxes and fees than cut transportation spending.
· The big challenges are:
- Creating jobs;
- Creating high-productivity jobs—in the U.S., output per worker hour grew by 0.6% in 2011 and 0.7% in 2012. In the U.K., output per worker has dropped by several percent.
- Creating high-paying jobs—in 2011, median household income in America was $50,054, $570 less than it was in 1989.
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