"A new poll shows that the people want control of the state budget, but most don't know where the money comes from or where it goes."
Last week brought a blizzard of polling on how Californians feel about their government and the economy. In two words: dislike and despair. The fine print suggested we should save a little distaste for ourselves.
A survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that, overwhelmingly, Californians want themselves -- not the governor or the Legislature -- to be in charge of big budget matters.
It also found that, even more overwhelmingly, Californians haven't a clue where the state gets its money or how it spends it -- basic essentials for people who want to run the show. This is, of course, after years of headlines and hand-wringing about California's fiscal crisis, budget cutbacks, IOUs and the potential for one of the world's biggest economies to go belly up.
Those who favored the comics pages in decades past may recall the words of the possum philosopher Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
Job Approval Ratings:
President Obama
Governor Schwarzenegger
California State Legislature
U.S. Congress
Senator Boxer
Senator Feinstein Time Trends for the Mood of Californians:
General Direction of Things in California
Economic Outlook for California
Last week brought a blizzard of polling on how Californians feel about their government and the economy. In two words: dislike and despair. The fine print suggested we should save a little distaste for ourselves.
A survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that, overwhelmingly, Californians want themselves -- not the governor or the Legislature -- to be in charge of big budget matters.
It also found that, even more overwhelmingly, Californians haven't a clue where the state gets its money or how it spends it -- basic essentials for people who want to run the show. This is, of course, after years of headlines and hand-wringing about California's fiscal crisis, budget cutbacks, IOUs and the potential for one of the world's biggest economies to go belly up.
Those who favored the comics pages in decades past may recall the words of the possum philosopher Pogo: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
January 2010
January 2010
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Full Report
Press Release
Read in SpanishSome findings of the current survey:
- Two-thirds of Californians would pay higher taxes to avoid cuts in K–12 funding.
- Seventy percent support spending cuts in prisons and corrections.
- Tom Campbell is ahead in the Senate primary race among Republican likely voters.
- Meg Whitman’s lead grows in the primary race for governor.
Job Approval Ratings: Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings: President Obama
Governor Schwarzenegger
California State Legislature
U.S. Congress
Senator Boxer
Senator Feinstein
Time Trends for the Mood of Californians: General Direction of Things in California
Economic Outlook for California
This survey is supported with funding from The James Irvine Foundation.