(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States are worried about financial matters, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 53 per cent of respondents think the economy is the most important issue facing the U.S. today.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States are worried about financial matters, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 53 per cent of respondents think the economy is the most important issue facing the U.S. today.
Health care is second on the list of concerns with nine per cent, followed by the federal budget deficit with seven per cent, and moral and family values with six per cent.
Since 2007, defaults on so-called subprime mortgages—credit given to high-risk borrowers—in the U.S. caused volatility in domestic and global financial markets and ultimately pushed the U.S. economy into a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The crisis has affected the global financial and credit systems, and triggered layoffs in companies around the world.
Last year, the federal government—then under the leadership of U.S. president George W. Bush—took control of mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Other financial institutions—including Bear Stearns, Merril Lynch, Lehman Brothers, American International Group (AIG), IndyMac Bancorp and Washington Mutual—have been sold, placed under bankruptcy protection, or received emergency loans from the Federal Reserve.
On Jun. 17, U.S. president Barack Obama outlined his plan to modify existing financial regulations, saying, "With the reforms we’re proposing today, we seek to put in place rules that will allow our markets to promote innovation while discouraging abuse. We seek to create a framework in which markets can function freely and fairly, without the fragility in which normal business cycles suddenly bring the risk of financial collapse; we want a system that works for businesses and consumers."
Polling Data
What do you think is the most important issue facing the United States today?
|
June 2009 |
May 2009 |
|
|
The economy |
53% |
54% |
|
Health care |
9% |
9% |
|
The federal budget deficit |
7% |
6% |
|
Moral values / Family values |
6% |
6% |
|
Leadership |
3% |
2% |
|
Terrorism |
3% |
3% |
|
Poverty |
3% |
3% |
|
The environment |
2% |
2% |
|
Education |
2% |
2% |
|
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan |
2% |
1% |
|
Housing |
1% |
2% |
|
Immigration |
1% |
4% |
|
Social Security |
1% |
1% |
|
Drug Traffic / Drug Use |
1% |
1% |
|
Crime / Public Safety |
1% |
1% |
|
Tax relief |
1% |
1% |
|
Energy / Electricity |
0% |
1% |
|
Other |
3% |
2% |
Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from May 6 to May 8, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
