Rising gas prices and persistent unemployment have pushed American pessimism to levels not seen since President Barack Obama took office. The number of Americans who think the economy is getting worse jumped 13 percent in just one month,
The New York Times/CBS News poll showed.
The public blame for the state of the economy has not spared the Republican led Congress. Some 75 percent of those polled disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job. By comparison, 57 percent disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job, the poll showed.
The public is also skeptical of claims made by the GOP and Obama that cutting the deficit will help the economy and create more jobs. The poll showed that only 29 percent believed the moves would create jobs, while 29 percent said it would cost jobs.
Some 72 percent support Obama’s push to end tax cuts for those households earning $250,000 a year and more and about three-quarters think the government has a responsibility to provide healthcare for the elderly, and 56 percent believe it should prove healthcare for the poor, the Times reported.
The GOP push to limit government also has support. Some 55 percent said they would rather have fewer services from a smaller government than more services from a bigger one. When asked to choose cutting military, Social Security or Medicare to cut the budget, 45 percent chose the military, 17 percent Social Security, and 21 percent Medicare, according to the Times.
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