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     Business Issues in the News             See also:  Economic outlook | Major institutions  |  Unions

Time Poll conducted by Abt SRBI. Oct. 26-27, 2009. N=1,003 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

"How closely are you following the news about the financial problems on Wall Street and the Obama administration's proposals to address these problems: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?"

10/26-27/09

"How good a job would you say the following are doing in taking steps to avoid another financial crisis in the future like the one we've had in the past year? [See below.] Would you say that they're doing an excellent job, a good job, only fair, or poor job?"

"President Obama"

10/26-27/09

"Democrats in Congress"

10/26-27/09

"Republicans in Congress"

10/26-27/09

"Major banks and other Wall Street financial institutions"

10/26-27/09

"Federal government regulators"

10/26-27/09

"The Federal Reserve Board"

10/26-27/09

"The American people"

10/26-27/09

"As you may know, the federal government invested billions of dollars to rescue the major financial institutions. Looking back, do you think this was the right thing or the wrong thing for the government to do?"

10/26-27/09

"Do you think that Wall Street has had too much influence over the government's economic recovery policies, about the right amount of influence, or too little influence?"

10/26-27/09

"Now that many banks and financial institutions are recovering with the government's help, how much has this recovery helped people like yourself: a great deal, some, not much, or not at all?"

10/26-27/09

"Do you think that government policies since the financial crisis have favored Wall Street financial institutions over the needs of people like yourself, or did the government just do what was necessary to avoid a bigger crisis?"

10/26-27/09

"Do you think that the government has done enough to help people like yourself during this economic downturn, too much, or does the government need to do more to help people like yourself?"

10/26-27/09

"As a result of the recent financial crisis, do you think that the large Wall Street financial institutions learned from their mistakes and will change the way they do business, or, do you think things will return to business as usual now that Wall Street has started to recover?"

10/26-27/09

"How concerned are you that the United States could suffer another financial crisis in the next few years as a result of Wall Street firms taking too much risk: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned?"

10/26-27/09

"Do you think there should be more government regulation of Wall Street than we've had in the past, less regulation, or about the same amount of regulation as now?"

10/26-27/09

"Do you think that executives at the large Wall Street financial institutions today are paid fairly for the work they do, paid somewhat higher than they should be paid, or is their pay completely out of line with what they do?"

10/26-27/09

"Last week the government ordered pay cuts and changes in the way bonuses are paid to top executives at the seven financial companies that received the most government assistance. Do you favor or oppose the federal government putting limits on salaries and other compensation paid to these executives? ... Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?"

10/26-27/09

"Some people say that if the government limits pay and bonuses at these Wall Street firms, it will hurt their ability to retain and attract the most talented employees that these companies need to recover and pay back the billions of dollars they owe to the federal government. Others disagree and say that the government needs to change the way Wall Street operates. All in all, should the government force pay cuts and other changes in compensation for the top executives of these institutions or not?"

10/26-27/09

"Several banks rescued by the government which have now paid back the government's rescue loans are paying record bonuses to employees. Should the government allow these banks to pay these record bonuses, or should the government strictly limit pay and bonuses at all banks which the government rescued, regardless of whether or not they've paid back the government?"

10/26-27/09

"Should the government reduce these executive bonuses by putting special higher taxes on them, or not?"

10/26-27/09

"The government paid billions of dollars to rescue financial companies that the government believed were too big to fail -- that is, if they failed, the entire financial system might collapse. Should the government have the power to break up banks and financial companies that it believes are too big to fail, or should the government not interfere with privately owned businesses?"

10/26-27/09

"If the government had allowed these banks to fail, do you think you personally would have suffered from these bank failures, or not?"

10/26-27/09