Yes, we knew that. But the numbers are stark.
A new Associated Press poll shows that about twice as many Americans are worried about losing their jobs than at this time in 2007.
In a nationwide survey taken this month, 47 percent of Americans said they were at least somewhat worried about job loss. More striking: three-fourths of respondents say they know someone who has been laid off in the past six months because of the recession.
The difference in the percentage of worried Americans can be found in those making $50,000 or more. Last year, only 20 percent of those earning $50,000 or more fretted about joblessness (as did 35 percent of those earning less than that.) Now, the number is 47 percent for each category of earning.
Americans also are unnerved about their retirement - more than half, 53 percent, aren't confident they'll have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, up from a third, 34 percent, in February 2005.
That worry, however, isn't translating thus far into cynicism about President Barack Obama or his stimulus plan. While Obama's approval numbers have taken a dip, they're still at 67 percent. Support for his stimulus plans are at 52 percent, slightly down from 55 percent a month ago.
(Your poll externals: The AP-GfK poll was conducted Feb. 12-17 and involved landline and cell phone interviews with 1,001 randomly chosen adults. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.)
Friday, February 20, 2009
New economy poll: We're worried
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18 comments:
Of those 47% who are "somewhat" worried most are probably in safe occupations like Education and Health Care.
It is time to be worried; as a retiree I don't have job worries but investments down 50% and appears to be heading for 100%. And, what is most worrisom we have no one in government who has a clue what to do. One thing is certain, we are on the wrong track.
DOLLARS TO DONUTS THE JOKE STIMULUS {SHOULD BE SPENDULUS} WILL BE THE BIGGEST FAILURE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS ONCE GREAT NATION!
3:46 As a retiree I am sorry your investments are down and you will not likely receive dividends and interest payments this year. I don't know if you retired early or belong to the Greatest Generation but, myself being no where close to 59 1/2 I see myself buying shares at a discount to be honest. I personally think things will get better in the latter part of 2010 with the Stimulus package. Plus in the Stimulus Package for older adults there is $4.2 billion to provide an additional Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance payment in 2009 & $1 billion for the Veterans Health Administration
(IF NEEDED by Seniors)
If you are retired you should not be in the stock markets. Shame on you, you have only yourself to blame. You should be in fixed investments. Anyone who is in the market should be looking 5-10 years down the road. NOW is a great time to buy, but not if you are near retirement. Our government does have a clue, things will turn around, they always do. Also, we are now and always will br a great nation.
Anonymous 3:46pm....I'm sure you have a far better solution? I'm sure you would've voted George Bush in for term #3 if you could, as well.
"To preserve our independence, we must not let out rulers load us with perpetual debt" Thomas Jefferson
of course we are, the new POTUS is a fear mongerer who uses the term "Crisis" 25 times in one speech the other day and continues to lie and claim this is the worst economic times since the depression.
hello, it has to get alot worse to meet how bad it was in the late 70's, unfortunately Obama is doing everything in his power to see to it that happens.
Don't panic! Maybe if you wouldn't listen so much to Rush Pillbox, you might not be so nervous. Folks like yourself always know exactly how things are going to go even before they are even put into effect. Where do you get that knowledge or did a little bird tell you so?
Anyone who isn't worried about their job is foolish. Even those in education and/or healthcare are also losing their jobs. Even financially healthy companies are using the current economic climate to "clean house." In some instances, it is an opportunity to replace expensive employees with less expensive employees, etc.
It is unfortunate that retirement is becoming a luxury. Those who manipulated the markets can be thanked for the current situation -with the Dow down almost 50% from the high. What I don't understand is why the majority of those responsible haven't been brought up on charges. Even Madoff is sitting at home waiting for a trial.
So, the comment about Obama's approval numbers is quite premature. The question is why isn't there outrage by the American public over the current situation. Without dissent, there will never be any meaningful change.
"Daily experience proves clearly to everybody but the most bigoted fanatics of socialism that government management is inefficient and wasteful" Ludwig von Mises
Anon 5:26 - You're amazing. When I pull the handle on the toilet, I know what's going to happen. You evidently stand there every time wondering what's going to happen to the poop THIS time.
We've been in far worse condition than this and spending your butt out of a recession has never worked. I'm old enough to remember Carter and live in an area with 15% unemployment and 13% home loans.
Meanwhile we have Obama out there spreading the misery every day. He's bringing babies to the housefire and throwing them in so he can look like a big hero by pulling a few of them out. I actually voted a write-in because both of the parties have failed, and I have no dog in this race. But we need a president that works and talks up the confidence, not uses bad times to pay off his campaign debts/promises, settle scores, and creates a terror situation so he has a better base to run from next time.
And it's CNN and MSNBC that spend more time talking about crisis than anyone else. Crisis and bad news make great news stories. Maybe if you took your head out and actually listened to what you are talking about, you would be able to comment intelligently.
Blame the media...journalist are never held accountable for what they write. I'm about freedom of speech, but when journalist write something about the markets/stocks/bonds and its wrong information, they need to be held accountable. People need to stop reading what they write! This is called "headline news risk". I'm just waiting on the day for someone to sue the company and journalist for loosing money on poor and incorrect articles.
I think the fact that we have news 24/7 does not help the situation. Yes, I am worried. I have seen so much of my families investments fall quite a bit. I am worried about my husband's job. Having said that I do have much more confidence in this Administration then I did in the previous. This Administration inherited a mess that was caused by greed and deregulation. It will take a long time to get out of this mess. I have faith that we will.
drip.....drip....drip.....just watch your IRA melt away. POTUS will absorb into social security and you will think he is doing you a favor. How's that Wachovia stock doing !?
Anon 6:22, You hadn't oughta be drinking when you post those rambling statements. Or maybe you live in a dream world where you make up situations that serve your fictional stories. "Bringing babies to a house fire and throwing them in" mercy, you are way out in left field. I know that you are a whole lot smarter than I because you get your information from Fox News and from Rush Limbaugh. I guess you are a "Dittohead" what ever that means.
Obama does not have a clue, but he sure can talk about hope and change!
What is a Rush Pillbox? Talk about an incoherent post. Perhaps somebody's been hitting the Jack Daniels!
Why on earth are not talking about fixing the real problem? THE PROBLEM IS THE HOUSING ISSUE. The question is how do we solve the housing problem. What I don't hear is a good solution. Here is the solution. . . give us what we really need to stop foreclosures, create jobs and get rid of the "toxic loans." THAT IS: GOVERNMENT - GIVE US 2% MORTGAGES. Open it to investors and potential homeowners...make it not available for refinancing, limit investors to three units or houses. Through our greed (the same thing that got us into this mess), we will buy up the foreclosures, new construction will start again because demand will improve. Prices will increase so other homes will not become foreclosures because the will be worth something. Let's get behind this program. It costs the government very little and helps us a lot!
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