Sure, Plato has often taken hits for dreaming of a Utopia where the Philosopher-King ruled, however, judging by this latest poll, it's not hard to see how someone can become disillusioned by democracy:
"Americans overwhelmingly do not think Congress should raise the nation’s debt limit as President Barack Obama and Congress prepare once again to wage battle over the issue, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll."
"By a 44-22 percent margin, Americans oppose raising the debt ceiling, which again puts the president in the difficult position of needing to make the case for an unpopular policy with a deadline quickly approaching."
"Americans overwhelmingly do not think Congress should raise the nation’s debt limit as President Barack Obama and Congress prepare once again to wage battle over the issue, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll."
"By a 44-22 percent margin, Americans oppose raising the debt ceiling, which again puts the president in the difficult position of needing to make the case for an unpopular policy with a deadline quickly approaching."
"The poll results come as the U.S. Treasury Department says the country will reach its debt limit by mid-October. The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates the limit will be reached by Oct. 18, and the U.S. could default by Nov. 5."
In fact, Americans thinks it's fine and dandy if the nation defaults on its debts:
Which shows that most Americans don't understand how the financial system works. In truth, the true opinion of Americans is not nearly as favorable to Republicans as this might suggest as even a major Republican pollster admits:
“People’s first instinct is how fed up they are with Washington and spending,” said Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the poll with Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart. “This is a very difficult issue in terms of public opinion.
"Despite the public’s opposition to raising the debt ceiling, McInturff warns that Republicans don’t have “free rein.”
"As was the case in 2011, if the nation’s credit score is downgraded again because of political uncertainty, Wall Street suffers or, even worse, the country defaults on its debt, all parties will be blamed."
"McInturff also points out that the president has the capability to frame a public debate in ways that can reshape attitudes about an issue."
"Indeed, the June 2011 NBC/WSJ poll showed 39 percent opposing raising the debt ceiling, versus 28 percent who supported it. But a month later – after the issue received more attention – those numbers flipped: 38 percent favored raising it, while 31 percent opposed it."
Obama is trying to avoid a repeat of the 2011 debt-limit fight, led by conservative Tea Party members of the U.S. House, which ultimately resulted in the U.S.’s credit rating being downgraded. The episode not only hurt the president but all parties involved, including House Republicans, who took much of the blame for the downgrade
"Obama is trying to avoid a repeat of the 2011 debt-limit fight, led by conservative Tea Party members of the U.S. House, which ultimately resulted in the U.S.’s credit rating being downgraded. The episode not only hurt the president but all parties involved, including House Republicans, who took much of the blame for the downgrade."
In fact public opinion is hopelessly confused on what the 'debt ceiling' actually is. Ideally, we shouldn't have a debt ceiling at all which would end the problem of political posturing on the issue.
The GOP got the lion's share of the blame in 2011-and in 1995-and will this time to I believe. Paul Krugman has a piece about how the ignorance of the House Republicans can hurt us.
What we are seeing painfully demonstrated repeatedly is that ignorance is not bliss after all, what you don't know certainly does hurt you but even more the rest of us
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