Voters Still Give Lukewarm Marks to Stimulus Plan
Voters continue to send mixed signals about the $787-billion economic stimulus plan approved last year by Congress, even as spending for some portions of the plan begin to run out.
Business
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December 21, 2010
December 21, 2010
Voters Say Businesses Should Spend To Create Jobs But Don’t Want Government To Force Them
President Obama in a meeting last week with top U.S. business leaders urged them to use some of their ample cash reserves to create new jobs, and most voters think that’s a good idea. But they draw the line at the government making the businesses spend their money that way.
December 21, 2010
SUCCEEDING IN YOUR BUSINESS: Oh, Ben Turpin, Where Art Thou?
As the year draws to a close, it's time to get a little philosophical and take a longer-range view of some things that are happening in the world.
December 17, 2010
40% Say Food Stamps Too Easy to Get
The federal government recently reported than 14% of the U.S. population or a record 42.9 million people received food stamps in September, with up to 20% getting them in some states.
December 15, 2010
Support for Tax Cut Deal Down
Most voters still approve of the tax cutting deal between President Obama and senior congressional Republicans, but support has fallen somewhat – in some surprising places.
December 14, 2010
SUCCEEDING IN YOUR BUSINESS: Minority Owners Don't Get Mad, They (Sometimes) Get Even
"I formed a business with two partners a couple of years ago. We set up a corporation, and divided the stock three ways. Me and my brother each had 40 percent of the company, and a good friend of ours had the remaining 20 percent.
December 10, 2010
Americans Are Still Gloomy About the U.S. Job Market
Americans remain just as pessimistic about the country's job market as they have been all year.
December 10, 2010
Voters Put Spending Cuts Ahead of Deficit Reduction
First things first. Despite official Washington’s increasing fixation on the federal budget deficit, most voters think cutting federal spending is a bigger priority.
December 10, 2010
Americans Still Strongly Favor Audit of the Fed
Looks like the Republicans want the fox watching the henhouse. Ron Paul, one of Congress’ sharpest critics of the Federal Reserve, has been chosen to lead the House subcommittee that monitors the Fed’s activities, and he promises to push again for a full audit of the nation’s central bank.
December 9, 2010
Only 17% Say Today's Children Will Be Better Off Than Their Parents
Americans historically have always worked to make sure their children were better off than they were, but the number who believe today's youth will be better off than their parents has fallen to its lowest level ever.
December 9, 2010
Americans Still Worry Whether Fed Can Keep Inflation, Interest Rates Down
Though Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has announced plans to commit another $600 billion to the banking system in an effort to jumpstart the economy, most Americans still aren’t confident the Fed can control inflation and keep interest rates down.
December 8, 2010
Discover(R) U.S. Spending Monitor(SM) Reaches 3-Year High, Jumping 4.3 Points in November
Consumers may be feeling the holiday spirit early, as their increased optimism toward the economy and their personal finances in October led to a rise in the Discover U.S. Spending Monitor for the first time since May.
December 8, 2010
Most Americans Hold Less Confidence in Obama’s Economic Advisers
With continuing problems in the economy and the national unemployment rate up to 9.8%, Americans nationwide are even less confident in President Obama’s economic advisers than they were three months ago.
December 7, 2010
Americans See Long Road to Recovery for Stock Market, Home Prices
Although the United States has officially been out of an economic recession for over a year, Americans are even more pessimistic about how long it will take the housing and stock markets to recover.
December 7, 2010
Majority of Americans Don't Expect Economic Recovery Anytime Soon
Americans remain pessimistic about the chances for economic recovery in the short-term and continue to pin their hopes on a long-term turnaround.
December 7, 2010
SUCCEEDING IN YOUR BUSINESS: As Yogi Berra Said, "When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It!"
"I have been working for a company for several years now, and it's not working out. I am being given unreasonable deadlines, my superiors are breathing down my neck for results and they are treating me like dirt, but they also are not giving me the resources I need to get the job done despite numerous requests on my part.
December 6, 2010
Government Employees Remain Most Confident About Economy
From 2005 to early 2009, entrepreneurs were more confident about the economy than government employees, private sector employees, retirees and other Americans. However, since March of last year, government workers have been the most confident (or, perhaps, the least pessimistic).
December 4, 2010
27% Favor a Government-Managed Economy
More than one-out-of-four Americans (27%) think the government should manage the U.S. economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Nearly as many (24%) say it's better for the government to stay out of economic decisions altogether.
December 3, 2010
Americans Question Whether Extended Unemployment Benefits Do More Harm Than Good
As Congress wrangles over whether to continue funding unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks, Americans express skepticism about the need for benefits that last that long.
December 3, 2010
Most Voters Believe Congress Likely to Extend Bush Tax Cuts For All
Despite Democratic resistance to extending the Bush tax cuts for those who earn $200,000 or more a year, most voters are optimistic that the tax cuts will be continued for all Americans.
