Congress' approval rating: How low can it go?

(CBS News) 

To say that Congress is unpopular is about as surprising as saying the sun rises in the East.

But we tip our hat to Freshman Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado for doing the research that shows just how far Congress has fallen, and for pointing out that despite the excuse offered by some, this is not the way it has always been.

Ten years ago, as many as 65 percent of Americans actually liked their elected officials. But as Congress has gotten more and more dysfunctional, its popularity has fallen dramatically to today's all-time low - a nine-percent approval rating.

Even the hated IRS has an approval rating four times that!

At the height of the oil spill, the BP oil company - at 16 percent - had a higher approval rating than Congress.

So does Paris Hilton, who scores 15 percent.

Mind you, these findings came before "60 Minutes" aired the story a week ago revealing that Congress has given its members the right to use inside information not available to the public to buy and sell stocks and bonds.

Until now, Congress' response has been to ignore the criticism and concentrate on excuses, not to make the hard decisions on raising revenues and overhauling entitlement programs. But when I look at these numbers, I'm not sure how much longer that's going to work for them.

And you know what? I hope it doesn't!

[magnumdr]

I know how all approval ratings can go up. Cut everyones wages from our secret serivce people to our President and stop all of the wasteful spending that we still do. Maybe if we could elect a poor but smart man to our public offices we might see some changes in our spending habits. Everyone in our main offices are rich and really don't know how the rest of the people here really live. After all Abe Lincolin wasn't rich?

[ToolMangler1]

That may or may not work, But I know what will. If every American citizen were to sign a "PLEDGE" like our 'elected officials' did to Grover Norquist but this Pledge would be to replace "EVERY" incumbent that fails to "PUT AMERICA FIRST" at election time. There is 'NO' excuse for an 'Employee' to "FAIL" to put the interests of the 'Employer' ahead of everything else.. These 'elected' officials have gotten the "Big head" and think that they are the ones that 'OWN' America... They aren't. We must put things back where they belong.

[noloyalisti]

Frankly I am surprised it is that high. The Congress has been completely co-opted by the Top 1% who should be the only ones who approve. Maybe they should have a rule that is the approval falls below 50% they are all automatically fired and we have to have new elections.

[CaptainSmollett]

The poor approval rating is largly due to the partisan divide in DC. When one party shifts further to the left or right, the other party will counter-balance, increasing the partisan divide. The cause of that problem can be placed squarely on Obama and is far-left ideology, which has split this country - yet he doesn't get the blame. If we want a more cooperative Congress, we need a more moderate administration.

[ToolMangler1]

Obama never made the GOP/TEA PARTY sign any pledges but their "OATH OF OFFICE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE".....

[Lerianis4]

Congresses biggest problem is that they have gone too far to the RIGHT on most issues and the people of America know it. Even the Democrat leaders are RIGHT of center and quite a bit right of center as well.

America wants people IN THE MIDDLE of the political landscape, neither party and not even the Greens, Libertarians (who are right of center farther than the Republicans), etc. offer that today.

We need a new party that leans left on issues where America leans left: on social support programs, on unions, on business regulation, etc.

[werntrouble]

To say that Congress sucks, is an understatement, but they certainly have lost all credibility. In fact, as we just learned today, it's Grover Norquist that the Republican Congress reports to, not us average citizens. What a corrupt system of useless people. They only report (Repubs or Dems) to their lobbyists and party leaders, not to we the citizens who they are supposed to represent.

[chevyhotrod]

Again, the "Pledge" is to the We The People that elected them, not to any individual.

Read the "Pledge" and stop posting ignorate remarks.

[ToolMangler1]

by chevyhotrod November 22, 2011 8:22 AM EST
"Again, the "Pledge" is to the We The People that elected them, not to any individual"


Wrong, Their "OATH OF OFFICE" is the 'Pledge' to 'US'. The Pledge to NEVER RAISE TAXES is Grover Norquist's Idea and it is Anti-constitutional. Taxes (revenue) is needed to keep the Nation sovereign and free. Jobs are 'NEEDED' to pay the taxes. It is a circular thing that should be balanced like a wheel so it keeps working..
Grover Norquist has an 'agenda' but it isn't in Americas interest. Everything he does is designed to help large corporations, (Not Mom & Pops businesses). Large Corporations are Globally oriented, not USA oriented.... (If America fails, they just move to China, or Russia)..

[lifelongtexan]

Can we make anyone who runs for elective office pass a fifth grade arithmetic test?

Better yet, can a class action suit be brought against Congress for fraud and non performance of duty? Americans have been severely damaged by their inaction.

[DerpDerpDerpityDerp]

It won't mean anything, sadly, the same clowns from both sides of the aisle will continue to get re-elected. We need a third (moderate) party that represents the majority of Americans. What happened to statesmanship? What happened to working things out to reach a compromise? What happened to doing what is best for America instead of pandering to the loud 15% of the two parties?

What happened? The answer is: The same clowns from both sides of the aisle keep getting re-elected.

[Martha12345]

"How low can it go?" --- How tall is Patty Murray ?

[rwassel]

Congress Approval Rating Before Nov. 2010 Elections?

21%

Congress Approval Rating After Now?

9%

Hmmm...what changed about Congress after the Nov. 2010 elections?

Oh, right...more Republicans were elected.

'Nuff said...

[TexFandango]

Congress isn't the problem and never has been.

Congress has and will do what their electorate compels it to. Those Americans that endlessly whine and complain about a do-nothing Congress but reflexively reelect their own congressman to office are precisely the problem.

The Congress, and the people, have become so polarizes and intransigent in their extreme views that both Republicans and Democrats have lost sight of what one of our founding fathers said are the three most important principles in government: compromise, compromise, and compromise. Without it we can no longer govern. The Super Committee's failure is evidence of this.

[twmat311]

"Those Americans that endlessly whine and complain about a do-nothing Congress but reflexively reelect their own congressman to office are precisely the problem."

BINGO!!! How much simpler can it be??? VOTE THEM OUT!!!
We're paying the price for our cut of the pork. Expensive huh?