NORC Center for Public Affairs Research — The Frustrated Public: Views of the 2016 Campaign, the Parties, and the Electoral Process

Seventy percent of Americans say they feel frustrated about this year's presidential election, including roughly equal proportions of Democrats and Republicans, according to a recent national poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. More than half feel helpless and a similar percent are angry.

Nine in 10 Americans lack confidence in the country's political system, and among a normally polarized electorate, there are few partisan differences in the public's lack of faith in the political parties, the nominating process, and the branches of government.

Americans do not see either the Republicans or the Democrats as particularly receptive to new ideas or the views of the rank-and-file membership. However, the candidacy of Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination is more likely to be viewed as good for his party than Donald Trump's bid for the Republican Party.

The nationwide poll of 1,060 adults used the AmeriSpeak® Omnibus, a monthly multi-client survey using NORC at the University of Chicago's probability based panel. Interviews were conducted between May 12 and 15, 2016, online and using landlines and cellphones.
Some of the poll's key findings are:…. 

Americans are bummed.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

The Frustrated Public: Views of the 2016 Campaign, the Parties, and the Electoral Process

The Moscow Times — More Than Half of Russians Want New Soviet State - Poll

More than half of Russians would like to see the restoration of the Soviet Union, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Although 58 percent of respondents said they would like to see a new socialist system, only 14 percent believed that it was likely to happen, the report by the independent Levada center pollster revealed.

Thirty-one percent of respondents were opposed to restoring the Soviet Union, while 10 percent did not give an opinion.

The numbers show little change from a similar poll conducted a decade ago, the pollster reported.

The number of Russians who regret the collapse of the Soviet Union — currently 56 percent — remains below the all-time high in 2000 when President Vladimir Putin came to power. At the time, some 75 percent of Russians regretted the fall of the Soviet Union, according to Levada Center polls.

Just over half of Russians, or 51 percent, think the Soviet collapse could have been avoided, while another 33 percent believe it was inevitable, the latest poll indicated. In March 2000, the numbers stood at 62 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

So much for the pipe dream of a popular uprising leading to regime change and a Western-oriented liberal government.

The Moscow Times and Levada Center are liberal organizations.

The Moscow Times
More Than Half of Russians Want New Soviet State - Poll

Simon North — Despite Economic Crisis, Russian Happiness Index Skyrockets

83% Russians feel happy, only 15% are dissatisfied with their life, while the economy is the main concern.

Russia Insider
Despite Economic Crisis, Russian Happiness Index Skyrockets
Simon North

AFP — Seven in 10 Greeks want a debt deal, survey finds

Only minority support for Grexit.

The Pennisula
Seven in 10 Greeks want a debt deal, survey finds
AFP

ht Conal

Pew Research Center — Political Polarization in the American Public

Center collapsing. Ideological intensity increasing. "Religious war" brewing.

The overall share of Americans who express consistently conservative or consistently liberal opinions has doubled over the past two decades from 10% to 21%. And ideological thinking is now much more closely aligned with partisanship than in the past. As a result, ideological overlap between the two parties has diminished: Today, 92% of Republicans are to the right of the median Democrat, and 94% of Democrats are to the left of the median Republican.

Partisan animosity has increased substantially over the same period. In each party, the share with a highly negative view of the opposing party has more than doubled since 1994. Most of these intense partisans believe the opposing party’s policies “are so misguided that they threaten the nation’s well-being.”

This is a fairly long and detailed study rather than a quick summary of polling.

Pew Research Center
Political Polarization in the American Public

YouGov Poll — Results: Guaranteed Jobs And Basic Income

Poll on JG, BIG, land value tax, and sovereign wealth fund — issues raised by Jesse Meyerson.

YouGov

Poll Results: Guaranteed Jobs And Basic Income
Peter Moore
(h/t Andy Blatchford)

Emily Swanson — Most Americans Think A Government Shutdown Would Hurt Them

HuffPost/YouGov poll.

The Huffington Post
Most Americans Think A Government Shutdown Would Hurt Them
Emily Swanson

Latest polling — Washington Disconnect

Eric W. Dolan at The Raw Story: Poll: 62 percent say debt ceiling deal benefits the rich and hurts the poor

Sixty-two percent of Americans think the bill that raises the federal's debt ceiling through the year 2013 and makes major cuts in government spending benefits the rich at the expense of the poor and middle class, according to a CNN/ORC poll released on Monday....

The poll (PDF) also found that 47 percent of Americans rate the economy "pretty badly" and 28 percent rate it "very badly." Only 23 percent think the economy is going "fairly well" and a meager 1 percent say it is going "very well."

Another CNN/ORC poll (PDF) released Monday found that 60 percent of Americans think the economy is the most important issue currently facing the nation. In contrast, only 16 percent think the federal budget deficit is the most important issue and only 9 percent think health care is the most important issue.

More specifically, 49 percent of Americans think unemployment is the biggest economic issue, 27 percent think the federal budget deficit is the biggest issue, 12 percent think the price of gasoline is the biggest issue and 5 percent think the tax rate is the biggest issue.

Is the public ready for MMT-based policy solutions? Sounds like it.