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February 04, 2016
Most Americans Say Government Doesn’t Do Enough to Help Middle Class
GOP seen as favoring the rich over middle class, poor; mixed views on which class the Democratic Party favors
GOP seen as favoring the rich over middle class, poor; mixed views on which class the Democratic Party favors
As voters begin casting the first ballots in the 2016 presidential election, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that most Americans say the federal government provides too little help to this segment of society, and neither political party is widely viewed as supportive of the middle class in this country.
Overall, 62% say the federal government does not do enough for middle-class people, compared with just 29% who say it does the right amount and 6% who say it does too much. Majorities also say the federal government doesn’t do enough to help older people (66%), children (59%) or poor people (59%). Wealthy people are the only group included in the survey for which a majority of the public (61%) thinks the government does too much.
Neither political party has a clear edge when it comes to championing middle-class interests. Just 32% of the public says the Democratic Party favors the middle class. Similar shares say the party favors either the poor (31%) or the rich (26%). Views of the Republican Party are much less balanced. A majority of the public (62%) says that the GOP favors the rich, while 26% say it favors the middle class. Just 2% say the Republican Party favors the poor.
The survey, conducted Dec. 8-13, 2015, among 1,500 adults, also finds that when it comes to what it takes to be middle class, there is near unanimity in the public that a secure job and the ability to save money are essential for middle-class status. At the same time, there are sharp differences in opinion across classes regarding the availability of good jobs. Majorities of self-identified middle-class (58%) and lower-class adults (73%) say that good jobs are difficult to find, compared with only 46% of upper-class adults.
Read the report
Related: What Americans say it takes to be middle class
Overall, 62% say the federal government does not do enough for middle-class people, compared with just 29% who say it does the right amount and 6% who say it does too much. Majorities also say the federal government doesn’t do enough to help older people (66%), children (59%) or poor people (59%). Wealthy people are the only group included in the survey for which a majority of the public (61%) thinks the government does too much.
Neither political party has a clear edge when it comes to championing middle-class interests. Just 32% of the public says the Democratic Party favors the middle class. Similar shares say the party favors either the poor (31%) or the rich (26%). Views of the Republican Party are much less balanced. A majority of the public (62%) says that the GOP favors the rich, while 26% say it favors the middle class. Just 2% say the Republican Party favors the poor.
The survey, conducted Dec. 8-13, 2015, among 1,500 adults, also finds that when it comes to what it takes to be middle class, there is near unanimity in the public that a secure job and the ability to save money are essential for middle-class status. At the same time, there are sharp differences in opinion across classes regarding the availability of good jobs. Majorities of self-identified middle-class (58%) and lower-class adults (73%) say that good jobs are difficult to find, compared with only 46% of upper-class adults.
Read the report
Related: What Americans say it takes to be middle class
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Americans say GOP favors rich, but doubt either party can help middle class
feb 4 - wall street journal
The middle class wants more government help
feb 4 - cnn money
Which political party looks out for the middle class?
feb 4 - Citylab
Americans say GOP favors rich, but doubt either party can help middle class
feb 4 - wall street journal
The middle class wants more government help
feb 4 - cnn money
Which political party looks out for the middle class?
feb 4 - Citylab