Americans PO'd at Congress

But I don't think this really has much to do with anything Congress is or isn't doing. More than anything, it's probably seething frustration with the TV writer's strike. Look at these Gallup numbers and see if you can find the common thread:

	Pleased	Neutral	Disappointed	Angry
	%	%	%	%
Terrorism	17	35	31	16
The economy	12	35	41	12
Government reform	12	33	41	14
Healthcare	12	28	43	17
Iraq	11	20	43	25
Immigration	8	27	39	26
The federal budget deficit	7	32	44	16

Give up? The common thread is that, with the exception of Iraq [and immigration], all the numbers are the same. 30-35% are neutral and 30-40% are disappointed with everything. The Iraq exception -- 25% angry about Iraq, probably includes Dem leftists who wanted us out on November 12, 2006 and Republican hawks tired of Harry Reid declaring defeat every 48 hours.

For some reason, the masses are unaccountably and indifferently in a funk ... about life. It has nothing to do with any specific issue. Ask any one of these respondents precisely what bothers them about how Congress has handled terror or the economy and you will get a blank look. Ask them what they think of how Congress is handling the Croation conccurrency crisis, and you'll get 30% neutral, 30% disappointed, and 10% angry.

Someone actually tested this once, way back in 1983. They asked survey respondents what they thought of the 1983 Budget Control Act. Over 40% stated an opinion pro or con, though there was no such bill.

The average person is an idiot. He states opinions because it is his duty, as an American, to have opinions.