As long as we're at it, here's what else Republicans think about the economy these days:
- 58% think the overall economy is poor (vs. 14% for Democrats)
- 62% think the economy is getting worse (vs. 22% for Democrats)
- 53% say they are worse off than last year (vs. 18% for Democrats)
- 50% say they've heard mostly negative news about the economy (vs. 23% for Democrats)
- 48% think the economy is shrinking (vs. 16% for Democrats)
- 51% think we are currently in a recession (vs. 28% for Democrats)
On a personal level things are quite different:
- 7% say they are personally unemployed, almost identical to Democrats
- 6% are unhappy with their jobs, almost identical to Democrats
- 8% are "very worried" about losing their job, a little less than Democrats
- 22% say they might have trouble paying bills this month, a little more than Democrats
As usual, what we see in general is that in terms of their personal life, Republicans report roughly the same economic condition as Democrats. But when they're asked about the overall economy, they're far more downbeat. The media might be generally too pessimistic about the economy, but Fox News and its pals are obviously in a class by themselves.
Yes, Paul Krugman has recently commented on this, more than once. And note that even the "papers of record" are required to push the Republican slant. Because otherwise they could be called, ya know, "librul."
When social conservatives think about context they look for an aesthetic, not objectivity.
Just as they've neither seen nor experienced any effect of the "crisis at the border," but they're convinced it and the bad economy exists because Fox News showed it to them on TV.
when they were growing up, their parents paid the bills and taxes, they didn't. they fail to come to terms with the fact that they have to step up. it's so unfair to expect them to be adults
Clearly, Republicans filter the economy into a partisan lens. If I recall, the Trump pre Covid economy also had a huge partisan split. America is just extremely divided now: news is viewed with a strong partisan filter.
And could we please keep in mind that many people respond to poll questions at least as much on the basis of loyalty and identity and what they think is the answer they "should" give as on the substance of the question? And not to sound unduly bothsides, but it's true of people of all political persuasions, although it's a truism to say it's more prevalent among those who happen to place more value on political "belonging," and right now they unquestionably are the Republicans, and MAGAts in particular. Fox doesn't tell them what to think about the economy; Fox tells them what to SAY about the economy, as a loyal MAGAt.
Let's reconsider the narrative of what Republicans are saying. It's not that they all think the economy is worse b/c the president is a democrat. They're virtue signaling that under a democrat, those people shouldn't be employed because they're flattening wage gains. You know what I mean?
Describing what people tell pollsters as what they "Think" is always dumb. It is what they feeel like telling poollsters. So the title of this item should be
“Here’s what Republicans feel like telling pollsters of the economy”.
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