Support for Budget, Tax and Social Welfare Programs The Political Environment

Party Identification: The Rise of Independents

The Gender Gap: Female Versus Male Voters

Public Opinion: The Important Issues

The Problem with Polls Low Level of Public Knowledge Often Inconsistent in views Small changes in the way a question is worded can produce significant changes in reported opinions.

Even though it is still a long way off, thinking about the campaign for the presidential election in 2012, what two issues would you most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about? (open-ended) Note: Only responses of 5 percent or more shown. Percentages may add to more than 100% due to multiple responses. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted June 9-14, 2011) War in Afghanistan/Military issues Gas prices Debt/Deficit Economy/Jobs Taxes Education Immigration Economy and Jobs Dominate Voters’ Top Issues for Presidential Campaign Health care AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS

Addressing The Deficit Problem

Majority Expresses Little or No Trust in Super Committee How much do you trust each of the following to make the right recommendations about ways to reduce the federal budget deficit? The bipartisan super committee Democrats in Congress Republicans in Congress President Obama Note: Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 7-12, 2011) A great dealNot at allA fair amountJust a little

Majority Not Confident Super Committee Will Deliver a Passable Proposal How confident are you that the super committee will be able to come up with a proposal to cut $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit before the November deadline? How likely do you think it is that the super committee will be able to come up with a proposal that will get enough support from both parties in Congress in order to pass? Not at all confident Very confident 2% Don’t know/Refused Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 7-12, 2011) Not at all likely Not too confident Somewhat confident 2% Don’t know/Refused Not too likely Somewhat likely Very likely

Most See Role For Tax Increases And Spending Reductions In Super Committee Plan Thinking about different approaches the super committee might recommend to reduce the federal budget deficit, I’d like to know how big a role you think each of the following should play in an overall deficit reduction strategy. Increasing taxes for all Americans Closing tax loopholes for wealthy Americans Closing tax loopholes for large businesses Increasing taxes for wealthy Americans Note: Various items asked of half sample. Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 7-12, 2011) Major roleNo role at allMinor role Repealing the Bush tax cuts for all Americans Repealing the Bush tax cuts for wealthy Americans Reducing spending on government programs and services

Partisan Division Over How to Tackle Deficit Which of the following would you prefer to see Congress do about the federal budget deficit? Attempt to reduce deficit mainly through INCREASING TAXES NOT TAKE ANY ACTION to reduce deficit now Attempt to reduce deficit mainly by REDUCING SPENDING on government programs and services COMBINATION of tax increases and reduced spending (vol.) Total Democrats Independents Republicans Note: Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted June 9-14, 2011)

Little Appetite For Spending Reductions In Social Security And Medicare To Reduce Deficit If Congress decides to reduce the deficit by reducing federal spending, I’d like to know in which areas you would be willing to see spending reduced. For each area I name, please tell me if you would support major spending reductions, minor spending reductions or no reductions at all as a way to reduce the federal deficit. Medicare Defense Social Security Medicaid NO reductionsSupport MAJOR reductionsSupport MINOR reductions Note: Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted July 13-18, 2011)

Even Among Republicans and Tea Party Supporters, Most Oppose Reductions to Social Security If the super committee recommends reducing the deficit by reducing federal spending, I’d like to know in which areas you would be willing to see spending reduced. For each area I name, please tell me if you would support major spending reductions, minor spending reductions or no reductions at all as a way to reduce the federal deficit. Note: Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted September 7-12, 2011) TotalDemocratsIndependentsRepublicans Tea Party Supporters (regardless of party affiliation) Social security No reductions58%65%58%52% Minor reductions Major reductions Medicare No reductions Minor reductions Major reductions Medicaid No reductions Minor reductions Major reductions Defense No reductions Minor reductions Major reductions

Whether or not you like the health reform law, would you say you approve or disapprove of cutting off funding as a way to stop some or all of health reform from being put into place? Two Thirds Consistently Disapproves of Cutting Funding to Health Reform Note: Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Polls Disapprove of cutting off funding Approve of cutting off funding

Majority Concerned About Availability of Medicare in Future How concerned are you that the Medicare benefits seniors have today will not be available for you when you retire? Note: Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted April 7-12, 2011) Very concernedSomewhat concernedNot too concernedNot at all concerned Total ASKED OF ADULTS AGE 18-64

Varying Support for Other Deficit Reduction Proposals Involving Medicare I’m going to read you some other changes to the Medicare program that have been proposed as ways to reduce the federal budget deficit. Please tell me whether you would generally favor or oppose each one. Note: Don’t know/Refused answers not shown. Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll (conducted April 7-12, 2011) Strongly favorSomewhat favorSomewhat opposeStrongly oppose Gradually raising the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 67 for future retirees Requiring all seniors to pay higher Medicare premiums Requiring only higher income seniors to pay higher Medicare premiums Requiring drug companies to give a discount on their prices in order to participate in the Medicare program

Bigger or Smaller Government? In general, would you rather have the federal government provide more services, even if it costs more in taxes or have the federal government cost less in taxes, but provide fewer services? More services even if more taxes No opinion Fewer services/ less taxes Source: Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University Role of Government Survey (conducted September 22-October 3, 2010)

Do you think the U.S. is now spending too much, too little, or about the right amount… Views on Spending Differ By Specificity Too much About the right amount Too little Don’t know/Refused About the right amount Too little Too much Don’t know/Refused …on foreign aid …on efforts to improve health for people in developing countries? Source: Kaiser Family Foundation 2010 Survey of Americans on the U.S. Role in Global Health (conducted August 3-16, 2010)

How Happy are Americans

World Economies

American Approach Versus the European Union Approach American approach has been to recover from the recession and then tackle budget issues. EU has been to tackle budget problems during the recession.

Unemployment Rates: January 2012

Spain: A Depression