Pew Research Center: The Economy the Public #1 Priority; Climate Least Important Problem

The economy is viewed as the most pressing challenge for the country as President Obama prepares for his State of the Union message Wednesday, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press. The Clinton campaign lived by the slogan "It's the economy, stupid" in the 1992 campaign against President George H.W. Bush. Wikepedia puts that history on the decision in perspective.

According to the report, "the public’s priorities for the president and Congress remain much as they were one year ago. Strengthening the nation’s economy and improving the job situation continue to top the list. And, in the wake of the failed Christmas Day terrorist attack on a Detroit-bound airliner, defending the country from future terrorist attacks also remains a top priority."

The most striking finding is that the results placed climate change at the bottom of the list. With the White House's push for health care -- the percentage rating for health care is lower now than it was in both 2007 (68%) and 2008 (69%).

The study echos basic economic realities. Harvard's Professor Joseph Kalt puts these facts in perspective in background piece in AnalysisOnline. Dr. Kalt notes:

“The core problem for us human beings and as a society – given that we’re not all the same and we can’t agree unanimously – is facing the challenge of how to allocate our resources: ‘Should we build a new school or a jail? Should we build a new road or a hospital?’ The problem is making those choices as a society and finding ways of using resources that is the best for people.”

When assessing opinion polls like Pew's, it is necessary to view them through the prism of economics. While the public says the economy is the highest priority -- it's important to note that several other issues are directly tied to the economy, including taxes. However, the survey is ultimately a reflection of the prioritization that Dr. Kalt references above.

Climate Change: Dead Last

Climate change, with all of the hype and news coverage, came in dead last. Again -- the public sees no real economic benefit in dealing with the issue during a time of increasing skepticism revealed in many polls like the Gallup survey.

Pew notes that "The public has shifted the emphasis it assigns to two major policy issues: dealing with the nation’s energy problem and reducing the budget deficit. About half (49%) say that dealing with the nation’s energy problem should be a top priority, down from 60% a year ago. At the same time, there has been a modest rise in the percentage saying that reducing the budget deficit should be a top priority, from 53% to 60%."

Pew noted that Other policy priorities show little change from a year ago. For example, despite the ongoing debate over health care reform, about as many now call reducing health care costs a top priority (57%) as did so in early 2009 (59%).

Financial Position of the USA 

The current economic situation in the United States provides more emphasis for why the public is saying "It's the economy, stupid!" Public debt is $12,245,872,000,000.

Figures on government spending and debt (last six digits are eliminated). The government's fiscal year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.