When midterm elections loom just around the corner, most presidents push populist policies to lure Independent votes as a means of retaining their party’s majority in Congress. President Biden, however, seems to be doing everything to push middle-ground voters away. It’s almost hard to believe that Biden wants his party to retain control of Congress at all, given his performance so far.
While the administration celebrates saving families 16 cents on Independence Day barbecues, American families face the harsh realities of misguided government priorities.
Countless small businesses have shuttered their doors, millions of American workers have been paid to stay home instead of encouraged to find work, and American families are facing rising inflation, the likes of which we have not seen in years.
We’re barely six months into Biden’s term and many voters are already experiencing a massive case of buyer’s remorse. A recent survey from the Center for Excellence in Polling found that less than half of all voters approve of the job Joe Biden is doing as president—a noticeable drop since May. While Democrats’ approval of the president remains high at 87 percent, the president’s approval rating with Independents is beginning to wane. In May, a narrow plurality—45 percent—of Independents disapproved, but by early July, nearly half found themselves in that camp. Meanwhile, President Biden’s approval with Independents dropped sharply from 44 to a dismal 37 percent.
This lackluster support of the president shouldn’t come as a surprise. As President Biden continues to push his agenda of massive government spending and welfare for all, American voters are being left behind.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that costs of consumer goods have increased by more than 5 percent over the past year. A whopping 69 percent of all likely voters have concerns about this kind of inflation, including 69 percent of polled Independents. Voters see with their own eyes how the skyrocketing cost of lumber increased the cost of buying a new home by nearly $36,000. The rise in prices for vehicles impedes their ability to go about their daily lives. And pain at the gas pump—with fuel prices up 95 cents per gallon from last year—affects many aspects of life, from the prices of groceries and medications to daily work commutes.
What does the Biden administration have to say about these concerning trends? Nothing encouraging or remotely close to owning the negative impacts of their policies: In fact, the White House largely blames supply chain issues for the growth in inflation, with a recent blog post failing to even mention the phrase “government spending.” The Left also blames low wages, but voters aren’t buying it. Only 22 percent think low wages are to blame.
These are convenient arguments for the administration as the president doubles down on progressive priorities, but they alienate voters. Republicans and Independents blame government spending for the rapid increase in inflation.
Voters are worried about the rapid rate at which the Biden-Harris administration is spending hard-earned tax dollars—or more accurately, the rate at which the administration is taking out loans courtesy of the American taxpayer. Democrat leadership in Washington, D.C. seems much less concerned with the day-to-day experiences of American families and much more concerned with implementing their far Left agenda.
And the out-of-control spending spree shows no signs of slowing down. The president’s latest budget proposal calls for $6 trillion in spending on the heels of trillions spent on pandemic relief. And President Biden’s infrastructure proposal called for more than $2 trillion in spending—though it looks like congressional leaders are negotiating that down to a still staggering $1 trillion. Further, Democrats' newest entitlement project—the advanceable child tax credit—is essentially “welfare for all” but with dangerous implications for families come Tax Day.
President Biden promised to fix America’s problems and rebuild trust in government, but recent polling numbers indicate that he may not be living up to the hype.
Instead of doubling down on massive government spending, President Biden and congressional Democrats should focus on reducing the national debt and getting government out of the way so businesses—and workers—can recover and flourish.
Nick Stehle is the vice president of communications at the Foundation for Government Accountability.