Wow, less than 2 out of 5 people agree with their elected official. I thought we got Democracy so this doesn't happen.
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http://americanresearchgroup.com/economy/August 22, 2005
George W. Bush's Job Approval Ratings Drop
George W. Bush's overall job approval ratings have dropped from a month ago even as Americans who approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president are turning more optimistic about their personal financial situations according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. Among all Americans, 36% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 58% disapprove. When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 33% approve and 62% disapprove.
Among Americans registered to vote, 38% approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president and 56% disapprove, and 36% approve of the way Bush is handling the economy and 60% disapprove.
This is the second month in a row when improving economic ratings have not been matched by higher job approval ratings for Bush. A total of 24% of Americans now say their personal financial situations are getting better, up from 17% in July, and 27% say they believe that their personal financial situations will be better off a year from now, which is up from 21% in July.
The increases in the personal financial ratings, however, are coming mainly from those approving of the way Bush is handling his job. A total of 54% of those approving the way Bush is handling his job say their personal financial situations are getting better, compared to 5% of those saying they disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job, and 61% of those saying they approve of the way Bush is handling his job say they expect to be better off a year from now, compared to 6% of those saying they disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job.
The results presented here are based on 1,100 completed telephone interviews conducted among a nationwide random sample of adults 18 years and older. The interviews were completed August 18 through 21, 2005. The theoretical margin of error for the total sample is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points, 95% of the time, on questions where opinion is evenly split.
Overall, 36% of Americans say that they approve of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president, 58% disapprove, and 6% are undecided.
Bush job approval Approve Disapprove Undecided
Aug 2005 36% 58% 6%
July 2005 42% 52% 6%
Jun 2005 42% 53% 5%
May 2005 43% 51% 6%
Apr 2005 44% 50% 6%
Mar 2005 47% 48% 5%
Feb 2005 49% 45% 6%
Jan 2005 51% 44% 5%
Dec 2004 50% 45% 5%
Nov 2004 51% 43% 6%
Oct 2004 45% 47% 8%
Sep 2004 45% 48% 7%
Aug 2004 43% 50% 7%
Among Republicans (35% of adults registered to vote in the survey), 77% approve of the way Bush is handling his job and 18% disapprove. Among Democrats (37% of adults registered to vote in the survey), 15% approve and 81% disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job. Among Independents (28% of adults registered to vote in the survey), 21% approve and 72% disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job as president.
Overall, 33% of Americans say that they approve of the way George W. Bush is handling the economy, 62% disapprove, and 5% are undecided. Among registered voters, 36% approve and 60% disapprove of the way Bush is handling the economy.
Bush handling the economy Approve Disapprove Undecided
Aug 2005 33% 62% 5%
July 2005 38% 54% 8%
Jun 2005 37% 59% 4%
May 2005 37% 57% 6%
Apr 2005 38% 56% 6%
Mar 2005 41% 53% 6%
Feb 2005 42% 51% 7%
Jan 2005 44% 50% 6%
Dec 2004 44% 50% 6%
Nov 2004 45% 50% 5%
Oct 2004 40% 53% 7%
Sep 2004 43% 51% 6%
Aug 2004 42% 52% 6%
Among Republicans, 73% approve of the way Bush is handling the economy and 25% disapprove. Among Democrats, 83% disapprove of the way Bush is handling the economy and 14% approve. Among Independents, 19% approve and 74% disapprove of the way Bush is handling the economy.
A total of 29% of Americans say that the national economy is getting better, 17% say it is staying the same, and 53% say the national economy is getting worse.
National economy
Getting better
Staying the same
Getting worse
Undecided
Aug 2005 29% 17% 53% 1%
July 2005 25% 33% 41% 1%
Jun 2005 22% 17% 58% 3%
May 2005 19% 20% 59% 2%
Apr 2005 25% 21% 53% 1%
Mar 2005 27% 25% 46% 2%
Feb 2005 30% 28% 39% 3%
Jan 2005 36% 25% 37% 2%
Dec 2004 31% 29% 39% 1%
Nov 2004 29% 30% 40% 1%
Oct 2004 24% 26% 50% -
Sep 2004 29% 24% 47% -
Aug 2004 42% 26% 32% -
Among those saying they approve of the way Bush is handling his job, 71% say getting better, 14% say staying the same, and 14% say getting worse. Of those saying they disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job, 777% say getting worse, 3% say getting better, and 19% say staying the same.
A total of 31% of Americans say they believe the national economy will be better a year from now, 23% say it will be the same, 44% say it will be worse, and 2% are undecided.