Americans are making their lists, checking them twice, and finding that Washington politicians have been naughty, not nice, when it comes to the U.S.’ growing inflation problem and its supply-chain chaos. Indeed, the November I&I/TIPP Poll shows Americans overwhelmingly blame our Washington-based political class for the current problems.
The poll asked: “In general, how responsible are politicians in Washington for recent increases in gasoline and food prices?” The answer suggests coal (or perhaps tiny solar panels?) in many politicians’ stockings this year: 69% of those responding to the poll said politicians were responsible, while just 21% said they weren’t.
Perhaps the most surprising result comes from looking at the political breakdown. There is little, if any, difference between Democrats (71%), Republicans (73%) and independents/others (68%). Finally, something on which all the major parties can agree,
Meanwhile, a separate poll on who’s to blame for the current supply-chain mess, with more than 100 ships now sitting at sea waiting to be unloaded at the nation’s two busiest ports, finds that Americans also blame Washington.
The I&I/TIPP Poll asked respondents, “Who or what is primarily responsible for the supply chain crisis?” They were then given five possible responses. Most economists agree that the inflation and supply-chain crises are tightly linked.
Among those queried, 36% blamed “President Joe Biden and his administration” for the monumental supply-chain disruption, while 27% pointed their fingers at “government regulations.” All told, 63% blamed the government as the source of the problem, versus 15% who said the “private sector” and 14% who said “the workforce.” “Other” was selected by 7%.
Again, there was a surprising amount of bipartisan agreement. Among Democrats, 19% blamed Biden while 32% blamed government regulations, for a majority of 51% citing government as the cause.