Friday, November 27, 2009

Opinion

Sam Dealey

New Poll Shows Obama's Tax Plans Are Low Priority

November 12, 2008 01:52 PM ET | Sam Dealey | Permanent Link | Print

Some interesting poll results out today from AP/GfK Roper, in which respondents were asked to rate the priority of 11 prominent election issues.

Improving the economy led, with 98 percent saying it was a "top priority" or "an important but lower priority," and just 2 percent saying it was "not an important priority " or "should not be done."

Creating jobs and Reducing the federal budget also scored in the 90s as priorities.

Protecting the environment led the second tier of importance (scoring in the 80s), followed by Dealing with the problems of poor people, Stabilizing the nation's financial institutions, and Cutting personal tax rates.

Most interesting, however, is the third tier of priorities (70s), which gets to specific policy areas rather than the broad ideas listed above (excepting personal taxes): an Iraq withdrawal, healthcare reform, and offshore drilling.

And at the clear rock bottom of priorities was raising taxes. Just 59 percent said Eliminating the previous tax cuts for couples earning more than $250,000 a year was a top or important priority, while 37 percent said it was not a priority or should not be done.

Obama's election was interpreted in some quarters as a mandate for radical change. In this poll, at least, the respondents seem to say that the more things change, the more they should stay the same.

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Tags: taxes | Barack Obama | polls | Obama administration | Obama transition

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Reader Comments

Yep. I agree. And we as the voters will decide on what we want voted for. We didnt like or support this bailout plan. You should of cleared it with us first. We do employ everyone of you. Remeber, we can and will if needed, vote you OUT of office.

Riddle me this

If tax increases are bad in a slow economy, then why are they good in a good economy???

Here is a tax plan:

National Sales Tax - No Income tax

Increase tariffs

"Everyone" pays

If the spend happy Congress wants to fund a "project" they better make sure the economy is growing. If the economy is down cancel your project or reduce the funding.

No tax increase without the approval of the voters.

No Congressional pay increase without the approval of the voters.

No increase in benefits without the approval of the voters.

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Sam Dealey is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and Reader's Digest. He has written for many publications, including Time, GQ, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

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