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CBS News/New York Times PollFor release: Wednesday, June 29, 20116:30 PM (EDT)Problems at Home and Abroad: The Economy, Libya and Afghanistan
June 24-28, 2011
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Assessments of the economy remain poor, and 39% now think the U.S. economy maynever fully recover, an increase of 11 points since last fall. Only 20% think the economyis improving, the lowest percentage since last summer.
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Despite economic concerns, less than half the public thinks the government shouldspend money to create jobs, even if it has to borrow to do so. Just over half think thegovernment should focus on lowering the national debt instead.
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Four in 5 Americans approve of President Barack Obama’s plan to bring troops homefrom Afghanistan, and more than half would bring even more U.S. troops home. For thefirst time since President Obama took office, a majority of Americans say theAfghanistan conflict is going well – but 58% say the U.S. shouldn’t be involved there.
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President Barack Obama’s overall job approval rating is now 47%, similar to what it wasthree weeks ago.
The Economy
Americans see the economic situation worsening. 39% now say the nation’s economy is inpermanent decline and may never fully recover, an increase of 11 points since last fall. 57% ofAmericans say the economy is suffering from a temporary downturn and will eventually recover.
The U.S. Economy…
Now 10/2010Will eventually recover 57% 68%Is in permanent decline 39 28Only 20% of Americans think the economy is getting better; the lowest number since August2010. 31% believe it is getting worse and half say the economy is staying the same.
Direction of the Economy
Now 3 weeks ago 3/2011 1/2011 8/2010 3/2009Better 20% 24% 26% 30% 20% 19%Worse 31 31 26 21 34 41Same 48 44 47 46 44 37Overall evaluations of the national economy remain grim. 81% of Americans think the economyis in bad shape, while a mere 18% thinks it’s good.More than half of Americans think the government in Washington is paying at least someattention to improving the economy, but only 15% think it is paying a lot of attention. Democrats
 
 
and independents are more likely than Republicans to say the government is trying to improvethe economy.
Government in Washington’s Attention to Economy
All Reps Dems IndsA lot 15% 8% 22% 14%Some 38 34 43 35Not much 32 43 24 32None at all 13 14 9 15Despite Americans’ concerns about the economy, there is some reluctance to spendgovernment money to create jobs. 42% say the government should spend money to create jobseven if it has to borrow to do it, but more – 52% - would prefer the government not spend themoney and instead focus on lowering the country’s debt.There are striking partisan differences on this question. Most Democrats support governmentspending to create jobs, while Republicans and independents oppose it and would rather focuson lowering the nation’s debt.
Should Government Spend to Create Jobs?
All Reps Dems IndsYes, even if it has to borrow 42% 20% 61% 40%No, should focus on lowering the debt 52 75 34 52In spite of a national unemployment rate of 9.1%, Americans are split on whetherunemployment benefits should be extended. 47% say benefits should be extended even if itincreases the federal deficit, while 44% think benefits should not be extended. Here too, thereare differences by political party.
Should the Government Extend Unemployment Benefits?
All Reps Dems IndsYes 47% 31% 64% 45%No 44 64 28 45The economy and jobs remain the top concerns for Americans, as it has been for more thanthree years. 53% volunteer that as the most important problem facing the country, faroutdistancing the budget deficit, mentioned by 7%.
Most Important Problem Facing the Country
Economy and jobs 53%Budget deficit 7Health care 4War/Iraq/Afghanistan 4
Personal Finances
Most Americans say their family’s finances are in pretty good shape, but uneasiness about the job market persists. 60% are at least somewhat concerned that someone in their householdcould be out of work in the next year, including 31% who are very concerned about that.
 
 
Concern About HouseholdUnemployment in Next Year
Now 3 weeks ago 3/2011Very concerned 31% 30% 31%Somewhat concerned 29 25 27Not concerned 39 44 41Economic conditions have also had some impact on the education plans parents have for theirchildren. More than a third of parents of teenagers and college-age children say that the type ofcollege they can afford to send their child to has changed over the past few years. 23% havedelayed or decided against college for their child.
Have Economic Conditions Changed Education Plans for Your Child?
(among parents w/ children age 13-22)Yes NoType of college you can afford has changed 37% 60Delayed or decided against college 23% 68
Afghanistan
Last week President Obama announced that he intended to withdraw about a third of the100,000 U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan by the fall of 2012, and Americans overwhelminglyapprove of the plan. Four in five approve, including a majority of Republicans, Democrats, andindependents, while just 17% disapprove.
Obama’s Plan to Reduce U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
Total Reps Dems IndsApprove 79% 67% 90% 79%Disapprove 17 26 9 17In fact, most Americans do not think the troop withdrawal the President proposed goes farenough. 59% of Americans think even more than the proposed one-third of U.S. troops inAfghanistan should be withdrawn.
Amount of Troops that Should beWithdrawn from Afghanistan by the Summer of 2012
More than a third 59%About a third 26Less than a third 10The President announced that the planned troop withdrawal comes from a position of strength,and most Americans seem to agree. For the first time during Barack Obama’s presidency, amajority of Americans - 53% - think the war in Afghanistan is going at least somewhat well forthe U.S. In March 2009, shortly after President Obama took office, 57% thought the war wasgoing somewhat or very badly.
How is the War in Afghanistan Going?
Total 3/2011 2/2011 7/2010 11/2009 3/2009Well 53% 44% 36% 31% 23% 33%Badly 40 49 55 62 69 57
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