1. America’s Current Politics: The Consumer’s Perspective
Scott Keeter
Director of Survey Research
Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Assembly 2014
Washington, DC
March 20, 2014

2. How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right?53 36 25 47 17 60
Current: 68% “Only Some of the time” 12% “Never” (VOL.)
Pew Research, Gallup, CNN, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, National Election Survey

3. Does the Federal Government Threaten Your Personal Rights and Freedoms?

4. The Political Consequences of Distrust
Pew Research, Gallup, CNN, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, National Election Survey

6. Government Favorability Ratings
1987/ 1988
1997/ 1998
2013
98-13 Change %
Congress 64 53 23
-30
Supreme Court 79 77 48
-29
Federal agencies and departments  
FDA 74 75 65
-10
Dep’t of Education 60 61 -8
EPA 62 69 -7
Postal Service 76 89
83* -6
Defense Department 57 72 -4
CDC --
NASA 66 73
Justice Department 56 +5
IRS 49 38 44 +6
Veterans Admin. 59 68 +9
* 2010 trend
Pew Research Center

7. In Most Areas, More See Too Little than Too Much Regulation
View of federal regulations in these areas …
Strengthen
Keep as they are
Reduce DK % % 
Food production & packaging 53 36 7
4=100
Environmental protection 50 29 17
Car safety & efficiency 45 42 9
3=100
Workplace health & safety 41 10
Prescription drugs 39 33 20
8=100
View of federal regulations of these businesses …
Too little
Right amount
Too much
Banks & financial institutions 43 30
7=100
Large corporations 19 31
Oil & gas industry 44 14
Health insurance industry 40 18 37
5=100
Small businesses 21 23 49
Pew Research Center

8. Are the Problems Bigger? Are We Part of the Problem?
The government is facing more difficult problems than in the past
Americans aren’t willing to pay for the things they want government to do

9. The Current Climate: Compromise
I prefer elected officials who…
SOURCE: Pew Research Center, Jan. 2013

13. In 1960, the population of the U. S
In 1960, the population of the U.S. was 85% white; by 2060, it will be 43% white. Click

14. And we’re not just becoming less white, we’re becoming more like a rainbow. Click

15. Marriage and Race/Ethnicity

16. 1960 This is what demographers call an age pyramid.
Each bar represents a five year ago cohort, with the zero to fours on the bottom and the 85 pluses on the top.
In every society since the start of history…

17. 1850
…whenever you broke down any population this way, you’d always get a pyramid.

18. 1900
Over the centuries the angles grew less acute -- because people lived longer -- but it's always been a pyramid. 

19. 1960
Now let’s watch what happens to our age pyramid in the century between 1960 and 2060.
Click ONCE (animation will play and stop on its own)
It turns into a rectangle.

20. 1980

21. 1990

22. 2000

23. 2010

24. 2020

25. 2030

26. 2040

27. 2050

28. 2060
By 2060, we’ll have more Americans over age 85 than under age 5. This is uncharted territory, not just for us, but for all of humanity.
This is the product…

29. Here we see China’s rectangle …

30. And if we look at Germany, it’s not a rectangle but it’s becoming a top-heavy trapezoid.

31. Japan's median age by then will be 53, compared with our 41.
Japan will be the oldest country in human history and if you don’t have enough young people to take care of your old people, you need to improvise. Small wonder that Japan is leading the world in the manufacture of caretaker robots. Debt to GDP.
Click

32. What about the Next Generation?

33. Religious Un-Affiliation is Generational

34. Percent Married, Ages 18-32

35. Millennials Increasingly Identify as Political Independents

36. Trend in Millennials’ Party/Leaned Party ID

37. Younger Americans Hardest Hit by Recession
Change in Median Net Worth by Age of Householder,
Rising Share of Young Adults Living in Multi-Generational Households
SOURCE: Pew Research Center tabulations of Census and Survey of Income and Program Participation data

38. Obama Job Approval Declines across Generations
% of each generation who approve of the job Obama is doing as president

39. Millennials Less Conservative than Older Generations
Identify as conservative
Identify as liberal

40. Generational Differences on Immigration, Size of Government
% saying immigrants now living in the U.S. illegally should …
% saying they would rather have …

41. Modest Generational Differences in Views of Abortion, Gun Control
% saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases
% saying it’s more important to control gun ownership than protect gun rights

42. % saying programs that benefit … should be the higher priority
Millennials Say Government Programs for the Young Should Get More Priority
% saying programs that benefit … should be the higher priority

43. Majorities across Generations Oppose Cuts in Social Security Benefits
Thinking about the long-term future of Social Security … (%)

44. America’s Current Politics: The Consumer’s Perspective
Scott Keeter
Director of Survey Research
Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Assembly 2014
Washington, DC
March 20, 2014