A recent study uncovered just how deeply unemployment is affecting Americans, where it’s hurting taxpayers most, and who they say is to blame.
The CBS/New York Times poll, which included more than 700 unemployed Americans across a broad range of industries and job markets, found that roughly half of them feel the recession has had a fundamental impact on the way they live their lives. The poll also revealed:
- More than 60% of respondents claimed unemployment benefits weren’t even enough to cover basic necessities
- More than 50% didn’t have health insurance
- Half of respondents reported the need to borrow money from family or friends
- Another half feared falling out of an accepted social class, and
- 40% have moved or considered moving to a place where there are more jobs.
Being out of work also impacted the health and well being of most respondents. Among the survey’s more notable findings:
- 55% of respondents reported suffering some form of insomnia
- 50% suffered some form of anxiety or depression
- Nearly half got into frequent arguments with family and friends
- 40% noticed changes in their children’s behavior as a result of what they were going through, and
- 25% had consulted a mental health physician.
Regarding whom respondents blame for the current predicament:
- 26% blamed George W. Bush
- 12% blame the banks
- 8% blame politicians in general, and
- 3% blame Obama (with 47% saying they approve of the way he’s handling the situation now, and 42% saying they disapprove).
Finally, regarding prospects for the job market to improve in 2010:
- 39% said they anticipate improvement
- 36% expected it to stay the same, and
- 22% expected it will get worse.
Source: “Poll Reveals Depth and Trauma of Joblessness in U.S.” by Michael Luo and Megan Thee Brennan, New York Times, 12/14/2009
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Tags: Bush, economy, Layoffs, Obama, poll, Recession, study, survey, unemployment
December 28th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
It would be interesting to learn the political party affiliation of the 700 people polled and how this compares to the party affiliation of the unemployed population, or those who have lost their jobs in the past two years. The 47/42 approval/disapproval ratings on Obama’s handling of the recession seem close to his electoral victory margin. But it would be more interesting to know 1) whether layoffs have hit Democrats and Republicans equally hard and 2) how the approval/disapproval numbers move within and between party membership, particularly before and after a person loses his or her job.
December 28th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Seems awful easy to blather the same rhetoric and blame Pres. George Bush. Did they forget that we have had a Democratic majority on Capitol Hill? I predict that Obama will not be re-elected and can’t wait to see who they blame for the mess he is creating. Hopefully we can dump some of the other lousy politicians who are putting this country deeper in debt with ill conceived legislation. There won’t be a country out there willing to carry U.S. debt as we don’t have a shot of paying them back. Hold on as the worst is yet to come.
January 1st, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Excellent comments Ms Friedman. I am definitely not a big Bush fan but let’s take your comments a step further. What was the major cause of this current predicament we are experiencing? Who forced the banks to make these sub-prime loans? Which Congressional committee directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to stand behind these sub-prime loans? People – you have to educate yourself because the Democratic Party used your ignorance to get Obama elected. For me it was definitely voting for the lesser of the two evils. The biggest thing to help right now would be term limits on all Senates and Representatives.