A new poll from Gallup shows a marked decline in the number of people who say the economy is the most important problem facing the country.
In February, 86 percent of respondents said the economy was the most important problem. That was the highest number Gallup recorded during the current economic crisis. Now, 69 percent say the economy is the nation’s most important problem.
The answers were in response to an open question: “What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?” Most people answer that it is “the economy in general.” The number of people who say that has fallen from 57 percent in February to 47 percent today. The people who specifically said the problem is unemployment and jobs fell from 20 percent in February to 14 percent today.
So if fewer people think the economy is the country’s most important problem, what do they think is the problem? Nothing stands out. In February, six percent named health care; that number is now nine percent. In February, two percent said “ethics/moral/religious/family decline; dishonesty.” Now, seven percent say so. In February, six percent said “dissatisfaction with government/Congress/politicians/poor leadership; corruption; abuse of power.” Now, eight percent say that.
What’s always interesting about these open-ended poll questions is the low ranking of a number of issues that are the subject of passionate and prolonged debate in our political culture. The environment, abortion, guns, gay rights, race relations, drugs, the media — all were named by one percent or fewer as the nation’s most important problem.
