Public Says The Country Hasn't Recovered From Recession

Readers of this blog will know that I have said many times that, while the recession is over for the rich and the giant corporations, its effects still linger for the residents of Main Street. The rich and the corporations are making record incomes/profits -- but unemployment remains far too high, the median income is dropping, the middle class is shrinking, the number and percentage of Americans working for the minimum wage is growing, and we continue to have record numbers of people living in poverty.

Now a new survey by the YouGov Poll reflects that view also. The survey was done between September 6th and 8th of a random national sample of 1,000 adults, and has a margin of error of about 4 points. The survey shows that nearly half of all Americans (45%) say they were seriously hurt by the recession, 77% say the country has still not recovered from that recession, and 59% think it is likely that we will have another financial crisis in the next 12 months.

Those are some pretty bad numbers, and show that most Americans understand the economy is still struggling (as are too many Americans). The sad part is that it didn't have to be this way. We could have had a nation that has recovered and an economy that is booming (and creating jobs). But we don't have that, and the blame rests squarely on a Congress that couldn't compromise on anything (especially the Republicans in Congress, who block everything proposed out of an abnormal, and probably racist, hatred of President Obama).

The public knows this -- and that's why they are so angry with Congress, and in such an anti-incumbent mood. Hopefully, they will put the blame where it belongs and kick the Republicans out of power in the coming election. If not, the economy will continue to struggle for the next two year -- and Main Street will continue to suffer.