People worry about their jobs and the economy more than anything else. That is the conclusion of a new Gallup poll that was a waste of both time and money. No sane person would expect the results of the survey to be different.

The economy and jobs have been at the head of the Gallup tracking poll all year, and the trend will almost certainly continue.  Gallup research and other data show that most people do not believe that the recession has ended, despite what the government of private economist may say.

Gallup says that the concerns of Americans will help the Republicans in the midterm elections, but that is hardly the point.  People who work for the Administration and those who track economic trends and make predictions often fail to understand how the typical American feels. That makes it difficult if not impossible to tailor policy to reality.

Many people in government cannot understand why their issues–education, immigration, and health care–are not the same issues that citizens care about. The Administration and Congress, at least the majority of the House and Senate, spend day after day debating what America should spend to remain at war or how to “fix” health care. The health care bill itself was aimed at satisfying a perceived need.

People with jobs may not have immigrations issues at the top of their lists of concerns.

“Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Sept. 13-16, 2010, with a random sample of 1,019 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.”

Douglas A. McIntyre

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.