Because I no longer believe manipulative, made-up polls from the agenda-pushing press.
"Most Americans optimistic about 2012, poll says" December 30, 2011|By Jennifer Agiesta
WASHINGTON - Americans are hopeful for what 2012 will bring for their families and the country, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll, though most say 2011 was a year they would rather forget.
Nearly seven in 10 respondents said the year gone by was a bad one. But 62 percent are optimistic about what 2012 will bring for the nation, and more, 78 percent, are hopeful about the year their family will have in 2012.
They must have polled the one percent.
Jeff Wolfe, 33, of Farmington, W.Va., said 2011 treated him well because he was able to find steady work as a lineman. But for the rest of the nation, things were “pretty rough,’’ with so many Americans looking for jobs, he noted.
“For the first time since 2009, I worked all year,’’ he said. Wolfe said he lost work in 2008 and again in 2010. But in 2011, the father of two school-age children said he was able to catch up on bills, buy his wife a new car, and renovate his home.
Overall, the poll found 68 percent of respondents described 2011 as a bad year, compared with 29 percent who felt it was a good one.
A partisan divide, much like the one that ruled Washington this year, seems the only split in public opinion on 2011. Democrats were most likely to view 2011 positively (40 percent called it good), while independents and Republicans were less effusive. Beyond that, the poll found general agreement that 2011 is best left in the past....
Did they ask about the wars?
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"Wealth inequality tensions strongest in nearly 25 years" January 12, 2012|By Hope Yen, Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Tensions between the rich and poor are increasing and at their most intense level in nearly a quarter-century, a new survey shows. Americans now see more social conflict over wealth inequality than over the hot-button topics of immigration, race relations, and age.
Meaning the CORPORATE MEDIA and DISTRACTION MACHINE is FAILING!
The survey, released yesterday by the Pew Research Center, highlights US perceptions of the economic divide, an issue that has moved to the forefront in the 2012 presidential campaign amid stubbornly high unemployment, increasing poverty, and protests by the Occupy movement.
Oh, now I AM FEELING OPTIMISTIC about a poll!
The findings come as voters in New Hampshire’s primary Tuesday night made clear the economy mattered the most to them. In the end, they chose Mitt Romney by a large margin, even as some Republican rivals stepped up populist attacks on him as a heartless corporate raider who slashed jobs.
Related: Ron Paul Won New Hampshire
President Obama has been promoting a campaign message of middle-class opportunity, calling for higher taxes on the very rich and successfully pushing a two-month extension of a payroll tax cut....
Also see: Obama Has Found His Reelection Footing
Tea Party Republicans Rolled Over Payroll Tax
Back from break, Congress faces payroll tax talks
Democrats called that a big victory?
About 46 percent of Americans surveyed held a disapproving view, that rich people are wealthy because they were fortunate enough to be born into money or have the right connections. But almost as many people - 43 percent - said wealthy people are rich “mainly because of their own hard work, ambition, or education.’’
And the optimism just drained away as they once again sell division.
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"New year starts with hopeful outlook on hiring" January 06, 2012|By Christopher S. Rugaber
WASHINGTON - In November, the jobless rate fell to 8.6 percent from 9 percent. Still, about half that decline occurred because many people stopped looking for work.
Many economists say growth could slow to 2 percent this year. And without more jobs and higher incomes, consumers may have to cut back on spending. That could drag on growth in 2012.
But everything is looking up!
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