Inside the Beltway: Massive global poll says world ‘on the wrong track’

NEWS AND OPINION:

Feeling edgy, disconcerted, peevish? You are not alone. A massive new Ipsos poll reveals that the developed nations of the world share one concern in particular. The survey of close to 20,000 adults in 28 nations says that the majority of them — 56 percent — believe their own nation is “on the wrong track.”

So we have that in common.

Some countries have more confidence than others, however. The survey found that only 9 percent of the Chinese think their nation has gone awry. In second place is Saudi Arabia, where one-quarter feel that way, followed by India (33 percent), Malaysia (34 percent) and South Korea (37 percent) to round at the five least-worried countries.

Among Americans, 59 percent say the nation is on the wrong track; many western allies feel the same way, or worse. The number is 66 percent in Germany, 67 percent in Britain, and 73 percent in France, Spain and Sweden. Those citing the greatest concerns were Brazil (85 percent), Peru (78 percent), South Africa (76 percent) and Hungary (74 percent).

The vast findings also determined other worries plaguing the world population. From a list of 17 possibilities, of which they could choose three, the respondents ranked unemployment at the top of the list, cited by a third. But “poverty and inequality” was also a concern among 33 percent — followed by crime and violence (32 percent), financial or political corruption (32 percent) and health care (24 percent). The poll itself was appropriately titled “What Worries the World.”

IGNORING TRUMP VICTORIES

Since President Trump took office, the economy is booming, according to such reliable sources as federal agencies, analysts and data from the private sector. That may not be good enough for the press however.

The news media is seeking to “rewrite history” to credit former President Barack Obama for this feat, says one major business publication.

“The stronger the economy gets under Trump, the more desperate his critics are to hand credit over to Obama. Even if that entails changing the past,” says an Investor’s Business Daily editorial. “A recent New York Times story says it all: ’An economic upturn begun under Obama is now Trump’s to tout’.”

Things were not always thus.

“We seem to recall that the economy was stagnating in 2016 after the weakest recovery from a recession since the Great Depression,” the IBD editorial noted. “In fact, The New York Times itself described Obama’s economy this way in August 2016: ’For three quarters in a row, the growth rate of the economy has hovered around a mere 1 percent,” the IBD editorial recalled. “In the last quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, the economy expanded at feeble annual rates of 0.9 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.”

The editorial also cited similar coverage at CBS News.

“Now that the economy is outperforming everyone’s expectations, Trump’s critics want to pretend that the current boom was already baked in the cake,” the editorial said. “Now, after Trump’s deregulation and tax cuts are starting to take effect, we’re seeing still more signs of stronger growth. Polls show that the public gives Trump credit for what’s going on today. They, not the mainstream press, have it right.”

OMAROSA, MEDIA DARLING

The major broadcasters have been Omarosa-centric. Beginning with Friday’s evening newscasts and going through Monday’s morning shows, the “Big Three” networks NBC, ABC, and CBS provided an “astonishing 93 minutes of air time” to promoting former Trump White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman and her new tell-all book about the Trump administration.

“While hosts and correspondents repeatedly acknowledged the ’Apprentice’ star’s major credibility problems, that didn’t stop them from providing the avalanche of coverage,” writes Kyle Drennen, an analyst for Newsbusters.org, a conservative press watchdog.

NBC led the way here, with 57 minutes of coverage, followed by ABC with 28 minutes and CBS, with a mere 7 minutes.

“The liberal media narrative seems to often beat the truth when it comes to coverage of the Trump administration,” says Mr. Drennen, recalling the broadcast coverage of “Fire and Fury,” Michael Wolff’s tell-all book published in January.

“Over the course of one week, Wolff’s book was granted over two hours of air time. To put things in perspective, attention for Omarosa’s memoir has already passed the hour and a half mark after just four days,” Mr. Drennen observes.

A MOMENT WITH THE CHIEF

“Ultimately, border security is national security,” U.S. Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost told Fox News in a recent interview.

She also offered some clarity on the public’s concerns about the separation of children and parents who are illegal immigrants.

“We don’t leave our humanity behind when we report for duty. The majority of my men and women are parents; I’m a parent myself. Law enforcement’s a difficult job,” Chief Provost said. “In my 26 years in law enforcement, both as a local police officer and as a Border Patrol agent, I have had to separate parents from their children. It’s not an easy task, but when you violate the law — and it is a violation of law to cross the border illegally between the ports of entry — then there needs to be a consequence.”

What does she hope for from President Trump and Congress?

“I need more men and women, I need more technology, I need more wall. Our core values are vigilance, service to country and integrity, and I want to ensure that we continue down that path,” Chief Provost added.

POLL DU JOUR

• 51 percent of Americans think that President Trump is conservative; 70 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of independents and 56 percent of Democrats agree.

• 14 percent overall think Mr. Trump is moderate; 21 percent of Republicans, 16 percent of independents and 6 percent of Democrats agree.

• 6 percent think he is liberal; 3 percent of Republicans, 6 percent of independents and 8 percent of Democrats agree.

• 29 percent overall are not sure about the president’s ideology; 6 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of independents and 30 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A YouGov poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted Aug. 5-7.

Kindly follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.