That’s what a recent survey by the Media and Public Opinion Research Group (MPO) finds that those who fault the government either partially or completely for poverty are nearly evenly split on which way the country is headed. Among those opposed to current national trends, there is a general agreement that the poor alone are at fault for their poverty.
Dissatisfaction with the country’s direction is growing among Americans, and a recent study by CNN/ORC International indicates that an overwhelming majority of Americans are disappointed with the country’s economic conditions.
In alleviating the matter, these studies suggest that about twenty percent of Americans believe a change of work ethic is needed among the impoverished.
MPO’s study suggests that registered Republicans are more likely than Democrats to view poverty as completely dependent upon individual work ethic.
Additionally, those frustrated with the country’s direction are more likely to support cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and other programs for the poor, while Obama detractors more readily blame the poor for their poverty than Obama supporters.
Data was collected over the month of May 2013, from a poll of 501 respondents. The margin of error is 4.38%.