Poll numbers reveal a divided, frustrated, and worried America

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Published: 05 Jul, 2010
1 min read

Based on several early polls in July, our nation remains polarized over President Obama, frustrated with Congressional performance, and pessimistic about the future. 

In an RCP poll and a Gallup poll, President Obama's approval/disapproval ratings were evenly divided at around 47%.  In a Rasmussen Reports poll, 45% approved, while 55% disapproved of his performance.  In the RCP poll, a mere 22% approved of Congressional performance, while 71% disapproved.  In addition, only 32% believed America was headed in the right direction, while 62% believed it was headed in the wrong direction. 

These numbers continue to lend credibility to the growing prospect of a viable third party emerging by 2012.  With the nation mired in $13 trillion of debt, 16.5% effective unemployment, a stalling, post-stimulus economy, $1 trillion overseas wars, and a perpetual cycle of media-stoked partisanship, deep voter frustration appears to be intensifying. 

Seeing that, since 2001, both parties have exploded the national debt, bailed out Wall St., continued the $1 trillion Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan wars, polarized the electorate, and failed to stem the tide of the Great Recession, voters may increasingly consider a more multi-partisan, independent-minded third party in the not-too-distant future. 

Recent polls demonstrate such a scenario is not far-fetched, with 31-35% of voters supporting a third party in order to challenge the Republican-Democrat duopoly and put America on a new path.  If these numbers continue to rise, the next few years may usher in an era of political revolution that far surpasses the 1992 Ross Perot campaign.

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