The economy and the voting public

[Stinger]

National economy in a recession
Yes No Undecided
July 2006 38% 45% 17%
Jun 2006 30% 49% 21%
May 2006 33% 50% 17%
Apr 2006 30% 51% 19%
Mar 2006 29% 59% 12%
Feb 2006 40% 45% 15%
Jan 2006 29% 57% 14%
Dec 2005 28% 54% 18%
Nov 2005 43% 44% 13%
Oct 2005 41% 44% 15%
Sep 2005 45% 41% 14%
Aug 2005 29% 50% 21%
July 2005 28% 53% 19%
http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/

Does anyone find it concerning that almost half and in many months more than half of the public, if we assume this is a representitive sample, either think we are in a recession or can't decide?

If this is an example of the economic intelligence of the general public doesn't it scare you that they vote?

 

[faithful_servant]

stinger, they're getting bombarded with anti-conservative news day after day. Since the MSM is the only source of news for most people, it's what they have been led to believe. Also, I've come ot notice that most polls aren't all that accurate. I have a theory about the accuracy of polling - Want to hear it?? You DO!!! Good.
Liberals tend to be the loud, speak-your-mind, make-a-scene types. Not all, liberals fall into this category, but there is a strong tendency towards it among liberals. Conservative tend to be the quieter, nose-to-the-grindstone, mind-your-own-business types, who want to be left alone. Again, not conservatives fall into this category but there is strong tendency. Polling companies depend on people being willing to give up some of thier time to offer their opinion on issues and the general tendency is that liberals are more willing to offer their opinions, while conservatives are more likely to hang up and go back to whatever it was they were doing. The polling companies attempt to correct for this by weighting the results, but the data used for their weighting calculations is dependent on the information they have and that infromation is skewed by the general "personality" of the groups being polled.

 

[Patrickt]

A. I doubt that 15% of the people could tell you what a recession is.

B. There are those who will say a recession is any time there is not a Democrat in the White House.

 

[Iriemon]

National economy in a recession
Yes No Undecided
July 2006 38% 45% 17%
Jun 2006 30% 49% 21%
May 2006 33% 50% 17%
Apr 2006 30% 51% 19%
Mar 2006 29% 59% 12%
Feb 2006 40% 45% 15%
Jan 2006 29% 57% 14%
Dec 2005 28% 54% 18%
Nov 2005 43% 44% 13%
Oct 2005 41% 44% 15%
Sep 2005 45% 41% 14%
Aug 2005 29% 50% 21%
July 2005 28% 53% 19%
http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/

Does anyone find it concerning that almost half and in many months more than half of the public, if we assume this is a representitive sample, either think we are in a recession or can't decide?

If this is an example of the economic intelligence of the general public doesn't it scare you that they vote?

I agree it is disconcerting. But it is not surprising. If a majority of Americans understood anything about the budget and economy Bush would have been booted for a landslide for his gross mismanagement and irresponsibility with the Govt budget.

I imagine the numbers reflect more how individuals view the economy as it is affecting them as opposed to what GDP is doing. Large percentages of the population (roughly proportionate to the responses, I'd guess) are not doing better under this economy -- even though corporate profits are up and these are fabulous times for the wealthy.

 

[Stinger]

I agree it is disconcerting. But it is not surprising. If a majority of Americans understood anything about the budget and economy Bush would have been booted for a landslide for his gross mismanagement and irresponsibility with the Govt budget..

Actually they would be thanking him for the tax cuts and and the strong economy that has resulted even in the face of 9/11 and the cost of the war. Now they might be screaming at the Congress for it's massive spending habits but that concerns the government and it's management of it's own business not the economy. They would realize that the economy on the whole is one of the best ever if they picked better news sources.

I imagine the numbers reflect more how individuals view the economy as it is affecting them as opposed to what GDP is doing.

Actaully no, if you go to thier website and read all the polling most of the respondents think they are personally doing pretty good. So thier own experiences speak the truth about the economy, it's their preception, which in large part they get from the MSM, of the overall economy is that IT is doing lousey and won't get any better.

 

[Iriemon]

Actually they would be thanking him for the tax cuts and and the strong economy that has resulted even in the face of 9/11 and the cost of the war. Now they might be screaming at the Congress for it's massive spending habits but that concerns the government and it's management of it's own business not the economy. They would realize that the economy on the whole is one of the best ever if they picked better news sources.

You could be right. It could be that most Americans could care less about rampant borrowing and the skyrocketing national debt, and have the attitude that as long as they have a few more dollars in their pocket then screw the future and let the next generation pay for our government and its wars. It could be that the pass the buck generation is fundamentally selfish in this way.

I try to hold on to the romantic notion that most Americans really are responsible and are deceived by the Govt and don't know the massive borrowing and tax deferrment going on, and if they understood it they would not put up with it.

But I'm afraid you are probably right.

Actaully no, if you go to thier website and read all the polling most of the respondents think they are personally doing pretty good. So thier own experiences speak the truth about the economy, it's their preception, which in large part they get from the MSM, of the overall economy is that IT is doing lousey and won't get any better.

Actually no, if you read the polling data and look at actual real income data, a large percentage of Americans are no better or worse off than they were 5 years ago and indeed are unhappy about the state of the economy fo that reason.

 

[Stinger]

Actually no, if you read the polling data and look at actual real income data, a large percentage of Americans are no better or worse off than they were 5 years ago and indeed are unhappy about the state of the economy fo that reason.

From the previous cite.

"When it comes to rating their household financial situations, 61% of Americans give an excellent, very good, or good rating and 38% give a bad, very bad, or terrible rating."