The U.S. Senate reconvened last week after a two-week recess for what could be the most critical four months of the 113th Congress. The top issues up for debate are gun control, immigration reform and solving the debt crisis. If these issues aren’t resolved before the August recess, many think the ability to solve these problems will be extremely unlikely in this Congress, and could be punted down the road for future legislators to solve.
What’s most interesting about these issues is that despite national media coverage and the fact that they currently have the undivided attention of Congress, most Americans don’t see these issues as priorities at all. On Monday, a Gallup poll highlighted the areas the country sees as the “top problems” facing the United States. Of the 16 problems listed in the poll, immigration was seventh on the list, guns were ninth, and the debt and deficit were fourth. If you break down the numbers, 11% of Americans see the debt and deficit as the most important problem facing the country today, down from 13% in February. Only 4% see immigration as the most important problem up from 3% in February. And finally, only 4% of Americans see guns/gun control as the most important issue facing the country, down from 6% in February. With the exception of immigration, these problems are falling lower on Americans’ radar while at the same time rising higher on the radar of Congress.
The top three issues Americans see as the most important problems facing the country today are:
What’s most interesting about these issues is that despite national media coverage and the fact that they currently have the undivided attention of Congress, most Americans don’t see these issues as priorities at all. On Monday, a Gallup poll highlighted the areas the country sees as the “top problems” facing the United States. Of the 16 problems listed in the poll, immigration was seventh on the list, guns were ninth, and the debt and deficit were fourth. If you break down the numbers, 11% of Americans see the debt and deficit as the most important problem facing the country today, down from 13% in February. Only 4% see immigration as the most important problem up from 3% in February. And finally, only 4% of Americans see guns/gun control as the most important issue facing the country, down from 6% in February. With the exception of immigration, these problems are falling lower on Americans’ radar while at the same time rising higher on the radar of Congress.
The top three issues Americans see as the most important problems facing the country today are:
This poll underscores the importance the economy and jobs play in Americans’ minds, despite being on a track to recovery. The chart below, from Gallup, shows how the trend of these issues has evolved over time. Although there is little that can be done to alter the trajectory Congress is on regarding guns and other issues, it’s important to continue to communicate with elected officials and remind them that jobs and the economy are still a priority.
RSS Feed
