Terry Jones writes for Issues and Insights about another round of bad polling news for President Biden.
Americans are making their lists, checking them twice, and finding that Washington politicians have been naughty, not nice, when it comes to the U.S.’ growing inflation problem and its supply-chain chaos. Indeed, the November I&I/TIPP Poll shows Americans overwhelmingly blame our Potomac-based political class for the current problems.
The poll asked: “In general, how responsible are politicians in Washington for recent increases in gasoline and food prices?” The answer suggests coal (or perhaps tiny solar panels?) in many politicians’ stockings this year: 69% of those responding said politicians were responsible, while just 21% said they weren’t.
Perhaps the most surprising result comes from looking at the political breakdown. There is little, if any, difference between Democrats (71%), Republicans (73%) and independents/others (68%). Finally, something on which all the major parties can agree.
Meanwhile, a separate poll on who’s to blame for the current supply-chain mess, with more than 100 ships now sitting at sea waiting to be unloaded at the nation’s two busiest ports, finds that Americans also blame Washington.
The I&I/TIPP Poll asked respondents: “Who or what is primarily responsible for the supply-chain crisis?” They were then given five possible responses.
Among those queried, 36% blamed “President Joe Biden and his administration” for the monumental supply-chain disruption, while 27% pointed their fingers at “government regulations.” All told, 63% blamed government as the source of the problem, versus 15% who said the “private sector” and 14% who said “the workforce.” “Other” was selected by 7%.
Again, there was a surprising amount of bipartisan agreement. Among Democrats, 19% blamed Biden while 32% blamed regulations, for a majority of 51% citing government as the cause.
For Republicans, 61% blamed Biden, while 21% blamed regulations. Independents, once again, straddled the two major parties, with 37% blaming Biden and 25% blaming regs. Significantly, among all political groupings, a majority blamed government for the supply-chain problem.