Polls On The Economy Show Rising Backlash

Or, at least a backpedal.  Or maybe it's simply the dawning of understanding about the nature of Mr. Hope-n-Change.  Whatever it is, it's a good sign.

Cut Taxes!

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans favor an across-the-board tax cut for all Americans to stimulate the U.S. economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Thirty-four percent (34%) oppose such a tax cut, and 15% are undecided. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of both Republicans and adults not affiliated with either major political party think an across-the-board tax cut is a good idea. Democrats are fairly evenly divided on the wisdom of such a tax cut.

The American people understand that by taking less money out of our paychecks, we have more to spend, and that benefits everyone.  All of this vast spending is taking its toll on Obama's plans, as the only realistic reactions to it are higher inflation and higher taxation.  I expect this number will go even higher.

I also thought this was an interesting detail:

During Election 2008, then-candidate Obama promised to cut taxes for 95% of all Americans. So far, just 26% of adults believe President Obama has delivered on that promise. Forty-three percent (43%) say he has not and 31% are not sure.

Translation: 26% of the country is composed of Kool-Aid drinking morons.


Reduce Spending!

Most voters (53%) believe increases in government spending hurt the economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

While that result is unchanged from last month, it's up five points from 48% in January.

Just 27% now say increased government spending helps the economy, and 10% say it has no impact. Most Republicans (73%) and unaffiliated voters (57%) say more government spending is bad for the economy. But a plurality of Democrats (45%) thinks increased government spending is beneficial.

Everyone who lives in the real world -- that is, outside of Washington where money grows on trees in unlimited quantities -- knows that rampant spending equals big problems eventually.  While government spending has been out of control for a very, very long time, we're now seeing such an sudden and dramatic acceleration that people are finally taking notice.  It's not hard to figure out that when you're in a giant pit of debt, you don't fix anything by continuing to set off dynamite at the bottom of the pit.

One other thing that is interesting to note is the independent votes on these polls.  In both, the Indies have swung solidly over into the GOP camp, and that has to be a giant red flag for Dem strategists.  It was those Indie voters -- whether consistent Indies or disgruntled former Reps -- that gave Obama the push he needed to win in 2008.  For them to be swinging so hard back the other way so quickly is not a good sign.

As Americans begin to feel the effects of Obama's policies, they are going to begin demanding accountability and action.  The GOP has to provide an alternative that stands for a renewed sense of fiscal responsibility, real transparency, and a reduction of spending.  I've got a fantastic story on this subject that I'll post later.

But, if this is the trend, Obama has to be connected with his own policies, and he must be held accountable for his actions.  We must not allow him to pawn it off on George W. Bush or anyone else.  There are always problems in this country, and the economy ebbs and flows every few years.  That's normal.  Barack Obama took exceptional measures to generate a crisis and then sweep in to 'fix' the crisis, and those solutions have been things exceedingly worse.  That's the truth, and that's the message that must be spread.

There's my two cents.