THE VERB TO CRATER

As the economic train veered around a curve Monday the Washington Post and ABC Sampled opinions of US citizens. There are some intriguing data in the poll. According to the poll 90% of Americans now believe that Mondays bailout failure could lead to a more severe problems in the economy. An interesting factoid; the difference in the way that those polled perceived the national economy and their own families financial well being. 60% remain pessimistic about the state of the economy however, 60% are optimistic about their families well being. This in the face of a crumbling housing market and the continued jitters in international financial markets.

As we wait for the next phase in the bailout rescue plans it is important to understand how much polling data like this influences your elected officials. Let them know what YOU THINK

FROM THE WASHINGTON POST
Wall St. Problems Viewed as 'Crisis' in Latest Poll"

By Jon Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 30, 2008; 10:10 AM

Most Americans see the current financial situation as a "crisis," and there is overwhelming concern that the failure of the House of Representatives to pass the economic recovery package will deepen the problem, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.


But the poll also revealed significant public concern with the bill Congress rejected yesterday, as few voters said the package did enough to protect "ordinary Americans," and nearly half said it did not go far enough to shore up the nation's economy.

Nevertheless, nearly nine in 10 expressed concern that the failure of the bill could lead to a more severe economic decline, including a slim majority calling themselves "very worried." High levels of concern cross party lines, but Democrats and Republicans have contrasting views of the urgency of the situation. In the poll, 60 percent of Democrats call the economic woes a crisis, compared with 44 percent of Republicans. - Read The Article -

Washington Post-ABC News Poll (RAW DATA)

This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone September 29, 2008, among a random national sample of 520 adults and 424 registered voters. The results from the sample of registered voters has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus five percentage points. Error margins are higher for subgroups. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.

*= less than 0.5 percent

1. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Thinking about the next 12 months, would you say you feel (optimistic) or (pessimistic) about (ITEM)?

9/29/08 - Summary Table

Optimistic Pessimistic No opinion
a. the state of the national economy 43 53 4
b. your own family's financial
situation 61 34 5

Trend:

a. the state of the national economy

Optimistic Pessimistic No opinion
9/29/08 RV 43 53 4
4/13/08 RV 40 58 2
2/1/08 45 51 4
12/9/07 45 52 3
12/11/06 64 33 3
5/15/06 52 46 1
12/18/05 55 44 1
12/19/04 58 40 2
6/20/04 64 34 2
1/14/03 63 35 2

b. your own family's financial situation

Optimistic Pessimistic No opinion
9/29/08 RV 61 34 5
4/13/08 RV 66 31 3
2/1/08 67 30 3
12/9/07 72 25 3
12/11/06 82 16 2
5/15/06 79 20 1
12/18/05 73 26 1
12/19/04 75 23 2


2. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) In terms of its potential impact on the broader economy, do you think the country's current financial situation is a crisis, a serious problem but not a crisis, a problem but not a serious one, or not much of a problem at all?

------ Problem ------- --------- Not a problem -------
Serious Not serious Not much of No
NET Crisis problem NET problem a problem opin.
9/29/08 RV 94 52 43 5 4 * 1

- M O R E -