Electorate "Divided and Pessimistic," Says Pew Research

by Stephen Lendman

On November 10, Pew Research said "(b)eyond their disagreements over specific policy issues, voters who supported President-elect Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton also differed over the seriousness of a wide array of problems facing the nation, from immigration and crime to inequality and racism."

Most voters believe little progress was made under Obama on major issues. Trump supporters said things are worse overall. Hillary backers astonishingly saw economic improvement - despite protracted Main Street Depression conditions affecting their lives adversely, neoliberal austerity increasing their pain and suffering.

The percent of voters calling the issues below a "very big problem" today was as follows:

Illegal immigration: 20% for Hillary supporters (HS below; 79% for Trump supporters (TS below).

Terrorism: 42% for HS; 74% for TS.

Working-class job opportunities: 45% for HS; 63% for TS.

Crime: 38% for HS; 55% for TS.

Job opportunities for all Americans: 43% for HS; 58% for TS.

Drug addiction: 56% for HS; 62% for TS.

Condition of roads, bridges and other infrastructure: 46% for HS; 36% for TS.

College education affordability: 38% for HS; 66% for TS.

Sexism: 37% for HS; 7% for TS.

Racism: 53% for HS; 21% for TS.

Gap between the rich and poor: 33% for HS; 72% for TS.

Gun violence: 31% for HS; 73% for TS.

Climate change: 66% for HS; 14% for TS."

Most effective way to solve problems: 84% of Hillary supporters favor gradual proven approaches left undefined; 53% of Trump supporters urge "new approaches that may solve problems quickly, but also risk making things worse; another 46% prefer a slower, proven approach.

By a 44 - 35% margin, voters overall called job opportunities in America worse, not better. By a two to one margin, they think the homeland terrorist risk is worse.

Pew's survey was conducted from October 25 through the morning of November 8 among 3,788 registered voters who said they already cast ballots or intend to.

Looking ahead to the next administration, most voters expressed little confidence about Trump or Clinton as US president.

Throughout at least most of the campaign, both were widely reviled.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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