Poll: 40% say let the looming budget cuts happen
Despite dire predictions from some about the harmful impact of the "sequester" spending cuts due to kick in on March 1, 29 percent of Americans have never heard of the sequester, and a full 40 percent of Americans believe we should allow the cuts to go into effect, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center.
Forty-nine percent of Americans, on the other hand, believe we should delay the automatic spending cuts. But if the cuts do land, congressional Republicans would shoulder a far greater share of the blame than President Obama: only 31 percent would blame the president, while 49 percent would blame the GOP in Congress.
And more bad news for Republicans: the solution offered by Democrats and the president - a combination of tax increases and spending cuts - is in greater concert with public opinion than Republicans' solution, which would trim the deficit with spending cuts alone. 76 percent of respondents told Pew that policymakers should combine spending cuts and tax increases, while only 19 percent would take tax increases out of the deficit reduction toolbox. Those who advocated a combined approach, by more than 3 to 1, believed that the combination should be mostly spending cuts.
Despite disagreements about how to reduce the deficit, there is broad agreement that we must do something: 70 percent of Americans say that major deficit reduction legislation should be a priority.
Some of the president's other agenda items do not evoke the same sense of urgency. Only 51 percent of Americans believe major immigration legislation is essential this year, 46 percent say the same about gun legislation, and only 34 percent believe combating climate change should be a priority.
Still, in each area, respondents tended to side with President Obama's approach to the issue over that of the GOP. On immigration, 50 percent agreed with the president's approach; only 33 percent agreed with Republicans'. On gun policies, 45 percent sided with Mr. Obama, while 39 percent sided with the GOP. And on climate change, the president outpaced Republicans nearly 2 to 1.
The president's job approval rating stands at 51 percent, down from a post-reelection high of 55 percent, according to Pew, but still well above the 25 percent of Americans who approve of the job Congress is doing.
Pew's poll, which surveyed 1,504 American adults between February 13 and 18, had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent.
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In the bigger picture, all FUTURE cuts in federal spending should be tied to an unemployment-rate trigger: as the unemployment rate falls, federal spending would be reduced. That will minimize the negative impact of federal spending cuts on the larger economy.
http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-happen/
The poll certainly suggests that a VAST MAJORITY (76%) of Americans would like to see "a combination of spending cuts and tax increases to reduce the budget deficit".
ONLY a small MINORITY (19%) of cranky conservative extremists "agree with the current Republican position that tax increases should be off the table".
Well-past time for the cranky republicans to listen to WE THE PEOPLE!
Both parties have sold out the bulk of the American citizens, who they're supposed to represent, by allowing the "out-sourcing" floodgates to open wider and wider without taking any sensible measures to stem the tide.
It shouldn't be all about Democrats or Republicans! It should be about Americans, especially our elected officials, doing the right thing for our country and its citizens. All the single-minded, left versus right, ideological one dimensional bull has got to go!
Both parties need to start working together and actually start doing something to fix the real problems in our country like "out-sourcing", illegal immigration, the out of control costs of health care insurance and our reliance on foreign fuel. If they don't start working together and actually start making progress by the next election, then American citizens should run a nation-wide campaign to vote out all incumbents regardless of party to send the message.
The ONLY REAL FIX is to Raise Revenue, by Bringing Back Jobs to US Citizens who Pay Income Tax.
Massive cutting just puts more people on unemployment, which just depresses the economy even further.
Returning private sector jobs to American Citizens will provide income tax revenue to OUR Government versus our government having to pay unemployment benefits to those who would be jobless instead. We need our elected officials to Start Protecting American Jobs and do whatever it takes to bring back the jobs they let go. We need leaders who will actually stand up for the American people.
The bottom line is that "Our Government" has to protect domestic industry and the jobs that those industries provide. If they do that, the rest will take care of itself.
We may have to pay a bit more for products made here in the USA by US citizens, but at least we'll still have jobs and a future for our children.
"Forty-nine percent of Americans, on the other hand, believe we should delay the automatic spending cuts".
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MONKEY replies: "40% are for the sequester AND 29% have never heard of it-- that is a total of 69%- leaving at most 31% that could be for it"
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SPIN it anyway you wish monkey, but you're only trying to make it up as you go through life in your very partisan world full of hate and discontent!
From the link to the poll:
"40% of Americans say it would be better to let the automatic spending cuts go into effect, while 49% say it would be better to delay the cuts".
http://www.people-press.org/2013/02/21/if-no-deal-is-struck-four-in-ten-say-let-the-sequester-happen/
Clearly YOU are in the minority 40%, since 49% say delay the sequestration!
"40% are for the sequester......leaving at most 31% that could be for it" -- monkey
Your CONfusion overwhelms you, despite clearly 49% wish to delay the sequester!
40% are for them
49% are against them
29% have never heard of them
If those are the numbers, than the 29% that never heard of them, also said they are either for or against them-- How can they be for or against something that they never heard of??
not that I'm one to believe polls, but:
40% are for the sequester AND 29% have never heard of it-- that is a total of 69%- leaving at most 31% that could be for it-
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No,No, No!
The article has a direct link to the poll if you would just look. 49% are against the sequester. The remainder have no opinion. But those asked that question had to have answered yes to the preliminary question about knowing about the sequester.
By the way, a majority of Republicans - 56% - want a combination of spending cuts and tax hikes to respond to the fiscal problem.
"40% of Americans say it would be better to let the automatic spending cuts go into effect, while 49% say it would be better to delay the cuts".
The monkey is clearly in the 40% MINORITY and just SPINNING it!
LOL! I already explained this fallacy of your convoluted 'thinking,' since President Obama certainly compromised during the PPACA negotiations, and it gained him absolutely nothing with recalcitrant republicans. There's many GOP ideas in the PPACA, including the individual mandate, but as soon as Obama agrees to a republican idea or stance, the obstructionists turn 180 degrees in order to oppose it!
There's just no compromising with the obstructionist and recalcitrant republican ideologues today!