Poll: Voters expect economic difficulty in 2013

Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. / Roger Wollenberg/Getty Images

As Congress scrambled to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" in the final days of 2012, a majority of voters expressed pessimism about the nation's economic prospects in the new year, according to a new poll released by USA Today/Gallup.

The survey, taken between Dec. 14 and 17, was conducted about two weeks before Congress signed off on an eleventh-hour deal to temporarily avert the so-called "cliff", a combination of automatic spending cuts and tax increases that was scheduled to go into effect on January 1. The deal, a two-month stopgap measure which the House of Representatives approved late on New Year's Day, extends the Bush-era tax rates for most Americans and extends long-term unemployment insurance, among other things.

According to the poll, 53 percent of Americans believe 2013 will yield full or increasing employment prospects, and 57 percent think prices will rise at a reasonable rate. Only 33 percent, however, predict a year of economic prosperity. Sixty-five percent said they anticipated a year of economic difficulty.

• "Fiscal cliff" averted -- now what?
• What the "fiscal cliff" bill means to taxpayers

Many Americans also revealed a pessimistic outlook when asked more broadly about the nation's future: Fifty percent said they thought the country's best years are in the past, while 47 percent said the nation's best days are ahead. Republicans were more likely -- at 74 percent -- to say America's best days are in the past; 69 percent of Democrats, meanwhile, expressed the opposite viewpoint. Independents were more split: 43 percent said the country's best days are ahead of us and 55 percent said they are behind us.

Nearly 6 in 10 respondents - 57 percent - also predicted a decline in America's power on the global stage, while 37 percent said America would increase its power in 2013.

The vast majority of Americans - 82 percent - correctly predicted that tax rates would go up, despite Republican efforts to the contrary. They also doubted that efforts to balance the federal budget in 2013 would prevail: Eighty-five percent of Americans expected that the federal government would have a deficit.

[Tazbeck]

If money is fake then doesn't that make all the debt fake as well? I mean if a few people can print all the money they want and they are the same people in charge of the banks which hold all debt, then wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that; all the debt that the banks have created would be just as fake and backed just as strongly as money? Which we all know money is backed by nothing more than confidence.
Just like a long drawn out game of Monopoly, you know, the one you know you're going to lose, but the person winning the game doesn't want to let the game end. Instead they make deals to keep you in the game (let me have your mortgaged property and I'll let you slide the next time you land on my hotels). We all know people like this, the real question should be; why do we allow this game of fake power to persist and dominate our lives? Do we as a people still need this game of Monopoly in our lives, does mankind need this shard to build a better tomorrow?

[runningbunny]

It's started in Minnesota. The Minneapolis VA hospital has cut its healthcare contractors. My husband found out an hour before his shift started. He's done at 11:30 pm tonight. And I thought spending cuts weren't kicking in yet?

[hillzagain]

"Only 33 percent, however, predict a year of economic prosperity."

100% of these morons voted for Obama and are in the bottom 50%, none of whom pay taxes.

"The vast majority of Americans - 82 percent - correctly predicted that tax rates would go up, despite Republican efforts to the contrary."

9 out of 10 respondents expressed utter disbelief and dismay upon being told that the tax increases they predicted would be felt mainly by them, and not rich people.

[tsigili]

People SHOULD have to pay the true tab for what they voted for.......in a HUGE tax increase.

If they want all the hand outs......and they want to VOTE for that.......then they should have to PAY THE TAXES TO FUND IT!

[TimeToRetire]

And they will pay higher taxes whether they know it or not. The workers ALWAYS pay the bill. Liberals are too dense to realize that "free" means smaller paychecks courtesy of the IRS. LOL

[TimeToRetire]

Obama and Clinton have one thing in common. Obama is the greatest gun salesman since Bill. The similarity ends there. While Clinton used economic sense in his policies, Obama is the businessman's worst nightmare. I for one won't be investing anytime soon. Disposable income will all end up in savings. Several times during the holiday shopping season, I found myself wanting to buy a new toy only to remind myself to resist the temptation. That was a good start.

[RobertVBrand]

"Spending more than you take in" -- wasn't that the policy advocated by Bush junior?

[US-Patriot]

It is time for the rise of a new political party, one that recognizes this nation is headed for disaster if spending is not curbed. The two party system has failed due to the polarization of both partys. Reagan believed in balanced budgets. Clinton was a centrist democrat and adhered to fiscal management. Bush overspent by a trillion dollars. Obama has overspent by spent FOUR trillion dollars and still plans to spend trillions more that we don't have. This is what the majority of Americans wanted. Get ready for the depression - it's coming.

[jnostromo]

LOL..this country has a third party, the tea bag party funded by right wing billionaires who seek a return to the early twentieth century and religious fanatics who wish to control every facet of life.

[tsigili]

When the country voted for Obama......they voted for bad economic policy. They deserve what they get.

[nonpolitico]

TSIGLI: Well said. This is what lotsa folks said at the time, and proves that all sensible citizens in USA can work out what politicians are up to before they actually make a move!
Obama is aiming for TAX rises, but vetoes PUBLIC SPENDING CUTS!
Go figure. If USA has a $17 TRILLION (and rising), deficit, the LAST THING Obama should be doing is, (to use his Socialist mantra), levying higher taxes on the better off!
Look up how much Washington is soaking up in its Programs!!
Look at how favored Bureaucrats continue their musical chairs in and out of very high paid positions with Gold Plated Pensions plus expenses.
THEY are not experiencing ANY so called fiscal cliff.
Why should THEY give a C**P about struggling Americans??
THEY are doing OK! Even the Democrats,renamed by some Dimocrats(Who,remember say they stand up for the lower paid)are far removed from ORDINARY citizens subjected to Repossessions/Pension wipe outs/Job losses/ savings reductions/reducions in anything that THEY had "loaned" to government on the understanding that repayment by Washington would occur automatically to honor that pledge!
Seems there is MORE HONOR among citizens than the whole bunch of thieves who have worked themselves into untold riches at the expense of Jill & Joe Citizen.
The whole bunch of them should be JAILED!
THe charges? Who needs to worry about that with all the spread of choices available,beginning with ballot rigging and voter fraud, determination to sink the 2nd Amendment, and collusion with rich donors on the economy!!!???
OF COURSE the "agreement" is short term. Politicians are looking to THEIR benefit, NOT that of the Citizen!!!!