Mike Berman’s Washington Watch

March 1, 2014 12:00 PM

State of the Nation

In the fourth week of January, the NBC/WSJ poll found that 63% of us think the country is on the wrong track. In the third week of February, the Econ/You Gov survey found the wrong track number to be 62%. The same survey found 60% claiming that view in January. In October 2013, the NBC/WSJ found the wrong track number to be 78%, and Econ/You Gov came up with 66%. The right direction number in both surveys sat in the high 20s.



The official unemployment rate for January 2014 is 6.6%. However, the real unemployment rate is 12.7%. The latter number includes the so-called “marginally attached” plus those who are working part-time, but would like to be working full time. This is, of course, a substantial change from January 2010, when the unemployment rate was 9.8% and the real unemployment rate was 16.7%.



In the CNN/ORG poll, 36% rate economic conditions in the country as good, while 64% describe them as poor. While these are not great numbers, they are substantially better than they were when Obama took office in March 2009, when 13% described conditions as good, while 89% described them as bad. [CNN/ORG 2/14]



Americans were asked whether the current economy “works well” or “does not work” for them and their families and various other groupings. Of the five groupings tested, the economy is seen as working well for “the wealthy” and for “men.”

The most dramatic schism is the difference in how the economy is seen as working for women and how it is seen as working for men. Women are considered to be behind men:

  • by 20 points by Americans generally
  • by 26 points by women
  • by 12 points by men
  • by 27 points by Hispanics
  • by 12 points by African Americans
  • by 20 points by white
  • by 30 points by liberals
  • by 9 points by conservatives


Americans generally say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 81% 6%
The middle class 22% 40%
Those living in poverty 13% 72%
You and your family 37% 22%
Men 53% 11%
Women 33% 25%


Women say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 83% 5%
The middle class 20% 41%
Those living in poverty 13% 71%
You and your family 36% 24%
Men 56% 10%
Women 30% 29%


Men say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 78% 8%
The middle class 24% 40%
Those living in poverty 12% 71%
You and your family 39% 19%
Men 49% 13%
Women 37% 21%


Hispanics say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 87% 7%
The middle class 24% 38%
Those living in poverty 13% 68%
You and your family 37% 20%
Men 63% 11%
Women 36% 26%


African Americans say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 83% 3%
The middle class 26% 26%
Those living in poverty 10% 78%
You and your family 41% 21%
Men 47% 20%
Women 30% 26%


Whites say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 80% 6%
The middle class 19% 44%
Those living in poverty 14% 71%
You and your family 37% 21%
Men 52% 10%
Women 32% 25%


Liberals say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 85% 8%
The middle class 21% 42%
Those living in poverty 6% 85%
You and your family 39% 21%
Men 58% 8%
Women 28% 33%


Conservatives say the economy

  Works well for Does not work well for
The wealthy 73% 9%
The middle class 24% 37%
Those living in poverty 16% 61%
You and your family 37% 22%
Men 49% 14%
Women 40% 21%


[NBC/WSJ 1/14]



From 1990 to 2012, there has been a rather dramatic increase in the percentage of Americans who say they have no religious affiliation.

  1990 2012 % Increase
Total 7.7% 19.7% 260%
Conservatives 5.0 9.1 180%
Liberals 14.6 39.6 270%
75+ 3.8 7.1 185%
45-54 5.9 16.0 270%
25-34 10.1 28.6 280%
18-24 9.7 32.0 330%
[NJ 2/1/14]




Over the last six years there has been a dramatic shift in the political composition of the 50 U.S States from Democratic to Republican.

  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Total Democratic 35 33 22 18 19 17
Total Republican 5 5 10 17 12 14
Competitive 10 12 18 15 19 19
[Gallup 1/14]




65% of Americans are dissatisfied with our system of government and how it works. And, that dissatisfaction with government in general, the Congress, and politicians is cited by 21% as the single most important problem facing the country today. [Gallup 1/14]



Neither of the two major political parties has the same priorities for the country as do Americans generally.

  Republican Party Democratic Party
Same priorities 35% 38%
Not same priorities 59% 57%
[NYT/CBS 2/14]




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