Who’s Fault Is It?
As I record this late yesterday, the federal government is careening toward a shutdown in barely a week. I’m confident that nothing happened overnight to change that.
There’s no good reason for the situation, and frankly plenty of people on both sides of the political aisle are to blame.
But a new poll conducted by The Tarrance Group for the Republican Main Street Partnership and Women2Women shows that Republicans will take the blame in the eyes of the public.
The 500-voter survey nationwide shows that voters will blame Republicans over Democrats for any shut down by a 2 to 1 margin. Specifically, 38 percent say it’s the fault of Republicans, 19 percent blame Democrats in Congress, and 17 percent blame the Democrat president.
I suppose if you combine those who blame Democrats, it’s nearly the amount that blame Republicans…but that’s precious little consolation if you’re the party being blamed by more voters than any other group—or combination of groups.
Also from that poll, if Congressional elections were held today, 43 percent would choose a Democrat, and 41 percent would choose a Republican; I am not a fan of unnamed candidate surveys, but the fact that 16 percent were uncertain which party to choose shows just how many people don’t want to align themselves with either party. Can’t say I blame them.
And it’s not just the government fiscal situation that has folks nervous. Some 61 percent of voters in the survey describe the U.S. economy negatively–as either in a slight downside, approaching a recession, already in a recession, or in a full depression.
Reading those numbers, in light of the dysfunction in Washington, no doubt puts all of us in a depression. And sadly, as always, no end in sight.
