Public’s Top Priorities Aren’t Health Care and Global Warming
During his radio talk show yesterday evening, Mark Levin referenced a survey report from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press that said:
“As Barack Obama begins his second year in office, the public’s priorities for the president and Congress remain much as they were one year ago. Strengthening the nation’s economy and improving the job situation continue to top the list. And, in the wake of the failed Christmas Day terrorist attack on a Detroit-bound airliner, defending the country from future terrorist attacks also remains a top priority. (emphasis added)
“At the same time, the public has shifted the emphasis it assigns to two major policy issues: dealing with the nation’s energy problem and reducing the budget deficit. About half (49%) say that dealing with the nation’s energy problem should be a top priority, down from 60% a year ago. At the same time, there has been a modest rise in the percentage saying that reducing the budget deficit should be a top priority, from 53% to 60%.”
As you can see from the Pew chart below, health care and global warming -- top priorities of the President and Congress -- were far, very far, from the public’s top priorities:
Even more importantly, health care and global warming were never among the public’s top priorities according to the details of the Pew survey report. In fact, ever since January 2007, global warming has been at the bottom of the list of the public’s top domestic priorities. Moreover, those selecting global warming as their top priority has dropped from 35% in 2007 to 28% in 2010.
Things are no different at the local level where the chairman of the Arlington County Board announced in his New Year’s Day speech that he would continue pushing his green agenda, e.g., forming the climate energy and environment policy committee and taking credit for creating the “Go Green Virginia Initiative” while president of the Virginia Municipal Learn.
UPDATE (2/13/10): Gallup reported yesterday that a new survey shows US unemployment has jumped "to top problem status."