I just thought this Gallup Poll was interesting. It shows the net favorability (favorable views minus unfavorable views) of the differing sectors of our society. Note that the most unpopular are the federal government (-29%), the oil and gas industry (-13%), and the pharmaceutical industry (-8%). This makes me wonder -- with these businesses being so unpopular, why does our government continue to give them huge subsidies? It's not like they weren't making billions in profits (without the subsidies).
The survey was conducted between August 5th and 9th of a random national sample of 1,011 adults, and has a margin of error of 6 points.
The conservatives have really done a great job of convincing the people that the government is bad. Social Security, Medicare, even the military are all well run -- and almost all Americans will admit this. Yet this roughly 3/4 of the government does nothing to make the people think the government does a good job. Americans' opinions of the government are as deeply considered as their opinions of Sinbad (the comedian).
ReplyDeleteGovernment isn't a business, right?
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans are trying to turn it into a business.
DeleteI wonder what these people are thinking when they think about the federal government. In the last few years I have had numerous occasions to work with many federal science and healthcare agencies and have found them extremely well run, with Service Desks that put many private sector units to shame (hide your faces Comcast, AT&T, United Airlines et al.)
ReplyDeleteI think the ironic thing is that when the people polled think about the government they think about the disfunction of our Congress - which is the part our Government that we the people are in charge of hiring.
This is Reagan's legacy, demonizing our own US democratic government. How can there be any doubt that he is the worst American ever?
Frank and Racer X -- You are both right. There are many government programs that are run very well, and perform a valuable function.
ReplyDelete