While Democrats in Congress debate the “Build Back Better” plan, the general public is more likely to be aware of the cost than the specific projects that would be included.
Despite the fact that many program concepts are in principle acceptable, some of the most popular ones — such as expanded Medicare coverage and lower pharmaceutical costs — are among the least advertised.
As a result, while the policy has a slim majority of support, just about a third of Americans believe it will benefit them directly — or the economy as a whole. Despite the fact that it is a Democratic bill, only 61 percent of Democrats back it.
All of this could be influencing people’s impressions of Democratic priorities: only about a third of Americans believe Joe Biden and the Democrats are focused on the issues that matter to them.
Only 10% of Americans claim they know a lot about the Build Back Better plan, while the rest say they have no idea.
When we inquire directly about prospective bill aspects, more respondents indicate they’ve heard something about the much-discussed $3.5 trillion amount, as well as the tax hikes, than health-care-related topics like lower Medicare medication prices or coverage for dental, eye, and hearing care.
Many of those items, on the other hand, are theoretically popular.
While this may not come as a surprise, it is important to grasp the political implications at work: the entire bill is considerably more favorable among people who have heard of popular elements such as Medicare expansion and family leave. Those who have heard more about the programs, in general, are also more positive than those who have simply heard about the pricing.
Corporate tax increases and higher-income tax increases are two prominent funding sources for the projects.
Despite all of this, people aren’t seeing a connection between the cost and their personal wallets. Only around a third of those surveyed feel the legislation will benefit them and their families in the long run.
All of this could result in a disconnect between what the public wants and what Washington delivers. When asked how much the Democrats and Joe Biden focus on issues of concern in general, only roughly a third believe they do.
The situation of the economy
For the two consecutive months, more than half of Americans believe the economy is in bad shape. Only 37% of Americans think the economy is very or fairly well, the lowest number since March. Furthermore, the majority of Americans are skeptical that the Biden administration’s domestic policy would help the economy.
With rising costs for a variety of products and services, six out of ten Americans believe the Biden administration is not focusing sufficiently on the issue of inflation – a larger percentage than for any of the other concerns we inquired about.
When questioned about current causes of inflation, two-thirds pointed to US government policies. Republicans are especially prone to believe this, and the majority of them disapprove of President Biden’s handling of the economy and believe he isn’t focusing on inflation enough.
The coronavirus pandemic is also viewed as a contributing cause, particularly in terms of supply and manufacturing concerns, by the majority of individuals. Eight out of ten people feel these concerns are to blame for inflation, with nearly six out of ten blaming increased consumer demand following the pandemic.
Banks and financial institutions are blamed for inflation by a smaller percentage of Americans, including both Republicans and Democrats.
