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The economy grabbed the nation's attention last week, and it still dominates conversations today as people on Main Street debate the fix for Wall Street.
This economic crisis affects everyone. Dan Jones and Associates took a poll tonight to see what Utahns think of the situation. They found people are upset and want answers, but confidence in a solution is hard to find.
Across the country and in Utah, people find it hard to embrace the proposed $700 billion bailout. In an exclusive Dan Jones and Associates poll for KSL-TV and the Deseret News, nearly half of Utahns polled oppose the bailout of financial institutions, one-third support it.
John Sonnenberg said, "I think you're looking at two negatives. I wish they had something positive they could put their teeth into to help the economy."
Tyrone Powell said, "I don't think as taxpayers we should have to bail them out. That's their problem."
Ninety percent think Congress should stay in session until they deal with this. Caleb Hamilton said, "I think they should stay in session as long as possible and get this problem fixed."
Who's to blame? Powell says it's "greedy people at the top of these big financial companies." But there's plenty to go around. Few blamed the borrowers, many blamed the lenders.
Are the republicans or democrats more to blame? Twenty-nine percent say republican, and 23 percent blame democrats, but nearly half won't point the finger.
Margo Stone said, "People that have been greedy in business and government should be held accountable."
When it comes to future leadership, more than half think McCain would do a better job than Obama. Westminster College political scientist Michael Zarkin says Congress is grappling with tough questions and conditions of its own.
He asks, "What kind of conditions will be attached to that money? How will it be used? What is the payback from the companies that are getting this bailout?"
Zarkin believes the bill will pass with conditions because there is still a sense of urgency. But will Congress follow up to figure out what it has to do to make sure this doesn't happen again?
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
