U.S. Economic Growth a Priority Over Bridging Rich-Poor Gap: Survey
Americans are more worried about growing the economy and increasing equality in opportunity than lowering the gap between the rich and poor, according to a new poll released today by Gallup.
Data obtained from a Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 survey show, while 46 percent of Americans believe it’s extremely or very important that the federal government reduces the income and wealth gap between the rich and poor, 70 percent say it is important for the government to increase equality of opportunity, and 82 percent say it is important for the government to grow and expand the economy.
The results come as Occupy Wall Street protesters point out wealth disparity in society. President Obama and Democratic Party lawmakers have pushed for increased taxes on those in higher income brackets.
Gallup notes that results showed Republicans are much less likely than independents and Democrats to say it is important for the government to be involved in increasing equality of opportunity or reducing the wealth gap. While 72 percent of Democrats said it is extremely or very important to reduce the income and wealth gap between rich and poor, only 43 percent of independents and 21 percent of Republicans agreed.
The survey also found that 52 percent of Americans say that the fact that some people in the United States are rich and others are poor is an acceptable part of our economic system. In 1998, 52 percent saw it as a problem that needed to be fixed.
Results were based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,012 adults, aged 18 and older.