Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Democrats and Republicans Have Different Priorities

Could there be bigger differences of opinion about the most important issues facing the nation than the ones between Democrats and Republicans? The answer is no—not by age, not by race, and not by education, according to a Pew Research Center survey. 

When asked which issues "should be a top priority for the president and Congress to address this year," here are the five regarded as most important by Democrats... 

Top 5 priorities, according to Democrats (percent saying issue should be a top priority)
1. Dealing with the coronavirus outbreak (80%)
2. Reducing health care costs (69%)
3. Improving the educational system (66%)
4. Dealing with global climate change (65%)
5. Strengthening the nation's economy (63%)

Only one of the Democrats' top priorities appears on the Republican top-five list. Take a look...

Top 5 priorities, according to Republicans (percent saying issue should be a top priority)
1. Strengthening the nation's economy (82%)
2. Dealing with the issue of immigration (67%)
3. Defending the country from future terrorist attacks (65%)
4. Reducing the budget deficit (63%)
5. Reducing crime (60%)

Strengthening the nation's economy is the only priority that both Democrats and Republicans rank among the most important. 

It gets worse. Two of the Democrats' top priorities are among the five lowest-priority issues for Republicans. A paltry 11 percent of Republicans think global climate change should be a priority (versus 65 percent of Democrats). Just 35 percent of Republicans think dealing with the coronavirus outbreak should be a priority (versus 80 percent of Democrats). Also among the five lowest-priority issues for Republicans are dealing with drug addiction (27 percent), dealing with the problems of poor people (25 percent), and addressing issues around race in this country (14 percent).

Conversely, two of the Republicans' top priorities are among the five lowest-priority issues for Democrats. Only 35 percent of Democrats think immigration should be a priority (versus 67 percent of Republicans). Just 31 percent of Democrats say the budget deficit should be a priority (versus 63 percent of Republicans). Also among the five lowest-priority issues for Democrats are dealing with drug addiction (32 percent), dealing with global trade issues (30 percent), and strengthening the U.S. military (22 percent). 

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