Opposition to Cash for Clunkers

The cash for clunkers plan was for people to trade in their old gas guzzlers and receive a rebate of up to 4,500 hundred dollars. Advertisements for this are all over the radio and I have heard many people talk about how they are interested in taking advantage of this. At the same time, many people have been saying that it was a stupid move made by the government. I found a poll on the Rassmussen Reports website dealing with this issue. The survey was conducted in mid-June. When asked if people would be interested in taking advantage of the program, 17% said that they were very likely to and another 18% said that they were somewhat likely to do so. Even though people are willing to take this money when it benefits them, 54% said that they are opposed to the "cash for clunkers" program and 12% said that they were undecided about it. The number of people signing onto this program greatly exeeded the government's expectations, yet the response is somewhat negetive.
The poll also looked at the difference between men's response, which is more supportive, and women's. Government employees are seen to like it more than those who work in the private sector. Fifty percent of all adults think that the program should be limited to buying cars that are made in America.

Here is the link to the poll discussed:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/auto_industry/july_2009/most_oppose_cash_for_clunkers_but_many_willing_to_take_the_money_if_offered

Small-Buisness Owners Struggling to go Green

When searching for something to discuss in my presentation for class this week, I stumbled upon an interesting Poll by Gallup Organizations. This poll, out of Princeton, New Jersey, focused in on small businesses. Many of the businesses surveyed said that it is hard to be "green" in today's economy. In fact, "One in three small business owners say the economy has impacted their plans to become more green" (http://www.gallup.com/poll/117340/Small-Business-Owners-Struggling-Become-Green.aspx). I think that this is really interesting and something I never actually thought of. Many of the large corporations are seen as going green, but they have more money and they are more regulated by the government. Walmart even shuts off the majority of their lights inside whenever it is sunny because they have the large windows on the roof.

A Little About Me

My name is Caley Kalk. I am a senior at Illinois State, majoring in Politics and Government. I am from a small town, located about ten miles south of Champaign, called Pesotum. I work in Eastland Mall at the Payless. I have been there a year and a half. I live in Normal with my boyfriend of six years who is also a student at ISU, he is in the Athletic Training Graduate Program.

Throughout the duration of the semester for my Public Opinion course, I am going to focus on the issue of Energy and the Enviornment. I am taking another politics course that is focused on the enviornment, so I think that it should help me keep updated and informed about new things occuring within my issue.