US public and ARRA reconciled.

 
I was looking for something else, but in the latest poll the ARRA has become popular

http://www.pollingreport.com/budget.htm

United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Sept. 7-9, 2012. N=1,012 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.7.

Asked of those who have heard about the program:
“From what you have seen or heard about the stimulus program do you think it was the right thing to do for the country or the wrong thing for the country?”

Right Thing    55%
Wrong Thing    36%
Unsure/refused  9%
   
We are not talking about losing a debate.  We are talking about winning a debate and not noticing.

Sad to say this has been yet another episode of “What Paul Krugman Said” (don’t you hate it when that happens).

Many other polls show majority support for fiscal stimulus.  Somehow while the very serious elite was focused on austerity, the general public accepted Keynesian macroeconomics.  And the elite didn’t notice.

Just click the link or read my effort to summarize after the jump (the link is better).

further down ABC/WaPo poll better way to create jobs cut taxes or spend on infrastructure projects

Spending on projects 52
Cutting Taxes        33

WaPo Kaiser family

Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation Poll. July 25-Aug. 5, 2012. N=3,130 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.

 
“Which of these do you think is more important right now: increasing federal spending to try to create jobs and improve the economy; or avoiding a big increase in the federal budget deficit?”

tied 48% to 48%

Note that is “federal spending” including bureaucrats.

Same poll solid majority supports both “budget cuts to reduce the federal deficit” and “additional spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects”. Both as ways to help the “JOB SITUATION”.

Oh hell just click the link.  In poll after poll a plurality supports more stimulus.  Your friend’s views basically can’t be reconciled with the polling data.

I think what happened is when the stimulus, which was supported by a majority when passed was new and things were still bad, the public rejected Keynes.  Now that things aren’t quite so bad, the public is re-Keynesed. Altrnatively the public is against whatever the politicians have done lately and lately they have been heading towards fiscal cliffs.

Comment on Ryan Cooper who lamented the Failure of the Liberal Idea Machine.  I was claiming that the failure was of the liberal spine machine, went looking for year old polls and was shocked by recent polls.