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THE Fall 2008The Economy Survey Information: Random Selection, Telephone Survey Number of Adult Interview Period: October 9 – October 17, 2008 Margin of Error: +/- 5% at the 95% confidence level. Contact: Wendy Scattergood Assistant Professor of Political Science, St. Norbert College Survey
Center DePere, WI 54115 (920) 403-3491 ·
NOTE:
Percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding. Compared to a
year ago, do you think the national economy has gotten better, stayed the same,
or gotten worse? Better ........................................................... 1% Same ........................................................... 5% Worse ........................................................... 93% Not Sure ........................................................... 2% Refused ........................................................... 0%
How
much attention would you say you have been paying to news about Wall Street
financial institutions? A Lot ........................................................... 67% Some ........................................................... 24% Not Very Much......................................................... 6% None At All ........................................................... 2% Not Sure ........................................................... 1% Refused ........................................................... 0% In
terms of its potential impact on the broader economy, do you think the
country's current financial situation is a crisis, a serious problem but not a
crisis, a problem but not a serious one, not much of a problem, or not a
problem at all? Crisis ........................................................... 47% Serious Problem........................................................ 45% Problem, But Not
Serious.......................................... 6% Not Much of A Problem............................................ 1% Not a Problem At All................................................. 0% Not Sure ........................................................... 1% Refused ........................................................... 0% Who do you think deserves the most blame
for the current financial situation? (ANSWERS
ROTATED) President George Bush.............................................. 16% Democrats
in Congress.............................................. 9% Republicans
in Congress............................................ 4% Wall
Street financial institutions/banks......................... 29% Homeowners
who borrowed too much...................... 7% Federal
Reserve ....................................................... 1% Treasury
Department................................................. <1% Many
equally caused it (VOL)................................... 29% Other ........................................................... 4% Not
Sure ........................................................... 1% Refused ........................................................... 0% Some people
say that we should let the market right itself and not have Congress intervene
in the financial markets, others say it is necessary Congress step in to avoid
more serious economic problems. Which is closer to your own view, that…… Congress should not intervene, let the market take care of it .... 32%
Congress should intervene to avoid
more serious economic problems...... 57% Not Sure ........................................................... 9% Refused ........................................................... 1% Some people
say that the bill to buy mortgage-related assets from banks and investment
companies that Congress passed was merely a bailout for Wall Street and
wouldn’t sufficiently help the overall economy, others say that it was
necessary to help the overall economy. Which is closer to your own view, that…. It was a bailout of Wall
Street not helpful to the overall economy 41% It was necessary to help the
entire economy............... 45% Both (VOL.) ........................................................... 4% Neither (VOL.)......................................................... 1% Not Sure ........................................................... 9% Refused ........................................................... 1% Personal
Impact Compared to a
year ago, do you feel that you are financially better off now, or worse off now
than a year ago? Better off now.................................................... 20% Worse off now................................................... 60% Same (volunteered)............................................. 20% Not Sure............................................................ <1% Refused / NA..................................................... 0% Do you expect that at this time NEXT year you will be financially better
off than now, or worse off than now? Better off than now............................................. 51% Worse off than now............................................ 20% Same (volunteered)............................................. 17% Not Sure............................................................ 12% Refused / NA..................................................... 0%
How much are you personally being affected by the Wall Street financial
problems? A
Great Deal................................................. 24% Some ........................................................... 37% Not
Too Much.............................................. 24% Not
At All..................................................... 12% Not
Sure....................................................... 3% Refused......................................................... <1% OF THOSE WHO
CURRENTLY WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME: At what age do
you expect that you will be able to retire? Under 55 Years Old ........................................................... 2% 55-60 ........................................................... 18% 61-64 ........................................................... 16% 65 ........................................................... 17% 66-70 ........................................................... 18% 71-74 ........................................................... 3% 75+ ........................................................... 18% Not Sure ........................................................... 7% Refused ........................................................... 1% |