Despite weeks of mainstream media bombardment over its “devastating effects,” less than one in five Americans has a firm grasp on what the federal government’s “sequester” really is.
According to a new Washington Post/ Pew poll, only 18 percent of respondents said they understood “very well” what the sequester was. Meanwhile 21 percent said they understood “not at all well” what it was, and 25 percent said they understood the sequester “not very well.”
Translation? The petty blame game going on in our nation’s capital is totally pointless: The public is “dazed and confused.”
What is the sequester? It’s an across-the-board $85 billion reduction in spending authority (but only a $53.8 billion cut) to outlays in the fiscal year ending September 30. That’s out of a nearly $4 trillion budget, people.
The sequester was agreed to by both U.S. President Barack Obama and leading “Republicans” back in 2011 as part of a deal to ramp up deficit spending by more than $2 trillion. Of course after blowing through that money in less than seventeen months, Obama and these “Republican” leaders moved earlier this year to delay the implementation of the sequester by two months.
(For the best article we’ve read yet on the sequester, check out this piece from Americans for Limited Government president Bill Wilson).
One interesting point about the Post/ Pew poll: While more respondents (45 percent) said they would blame “Republicans in Congress” than Obama (32 percent) if no deal is reached to avoid the sequester cuts, that margin is half as big as the “blame game advantage” Obama enjoyed during the debate over the “fiscal cliff.”
Does that mean “Republicans” will hold their ground for once?
We shall see … but whether they do or not, it’s clear most Americans aren’t paying attention.
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10 comments
If by not paying attention, you mean Americans are not concerned whether their elected officials are doing their jobs, then that does not say much for us as an electorate.
If by not paying attention, you mean Americans are not concerned whether their elected officials are doing their jobs, then that does not say much for us as an electorate.
WOW…..informational citizen CADETS….just look at the slant on this informative article. Think how this could be used. How would advertisers look at this in comparison to a lobbyist or a member of anyone’s campaign staff.!? Then really ask yourself how a “sequester” would look and react to this article..??
What would this link generate on FARK..?
Who is NOT paying attention more? Americans or the Staff at Fitsnews ??…or the staff at the Post and Courier?? ..or the staff at all car dealers in the United States.!?
…or the staff at Information “Operations”..??
WOW…..informational citizen CADETS….just look at the slant on this informative article. Think how this could be used. How would advertisers look at this in comparison to a lobbyist or a member of anyone’s campaign staff.!? Then really ask yourself how a “sequester” would look and react to this article..??
What would this link generate on FARK..?
Who is NOT paying attention more? Americans or the Staff at Fitsnews ??…or the staff at the Post and Courier?? ..or the staff at all car dealers in the United States.!?
…or the staff at Information “Operations”..??
Wow, 18% understand the sequester!
That’s three times the percentage that understand that the annual budget deficit is smaller this year than last. Projections are that it will continue to fall next year, with no more cuts than are presently in law.
Wow, 18% understand the sequester!
That’s three times the percentage that understand that the annual budget deficit is smaller this year than last. Projections are that it will continue to fall next year, with no more cuts than are presently in law.
Well I just read Bill Wilson’s piece and if you want to wade through a lot of partisan right wing disinformation to get a few kernels of truth, you can waste your time reading that article. The bottom line is this.
The annual deficit as a percentage of GDP has been going down every year since 2009, and will do so again this year even without the sequester. Nonetheless the sequester will result in reduced spending overall, and we should probably just live with it. However, we will not likely see as much annual deficit reduction as we think in that the sequester will also reduce GDP.
Will the sequester cost jobs? Yes it will. Companies working on Department of Defense projects and health care professionals are particularly vulnerable. For example persons working on Dept. of Defense projects in Virginia have already been told that if congress does not delay the sequester, they will be laid off.
Will it slow the economic recovery? Yes it will. Reduced spending by defense contractors and health care providers will result in fewer jobs and a slower recovery. Some argue now is not the time to slow the recovery, that we can do that later. Maybe, but maybe now is our best shot in beginning a cut back on money flowing into the military industrial complex. Without partisan gridlock and the sequester that would not be happening.
Who is to blame? I guess I would need to know the answer to the question, blame for what?
Well I just read Bill Wilson’s piece and if you want to wade through a lot of partisan right wing disinformation to get a few kernels of truth, you can waste your time reading that article. The bottom line is this.
The annual deficit as a percentage of GDP has been going down every year since 2009, and will do so again this year even without the sequester. Nonetheless the sequester will result in reduced spending overall, and we should probably just live with it. However, we will not likely see as much annual deficit reduction as we think in that the sequester will also reduce GDP.
Will the sequester cost jobs? Yes it will. Companies working on Department of Defense projects and health care professionals are particularly vulnerable. For example persons working on Dept. of Defense projects in Virginia have already been told that if congress does not delay the sequester, they will be laid off.
Will it slow the economic recovery? Yes it will. Reduced spending by defense contractors and health care providers will result in fewer jobs and a slower recovery. Some argue now is not the time to slow the recovery, that we can do that later. Maybe, but maybe now is our best shot in beginning a cut back on money flowing into the military industrial complex. Without partisan gridlock and the sequester that would not be happening.
Who is to blame? I guess I would need to know the answer to the question, blame for what?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyzFZ5nvmjI
Sequester is a joke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyzFZ5nvmjI
Sequester is a joke.