To Fix the Economy, Get Out of Iraq

Solutions conservatives are offering to pull the economy out of a recession do not match up with what the public expects.

Just over 1,000 people were asked in a February 2008 Associated Press/Ipsos poll, "How much do
you think each of the following would help fix the country’s economic problems: cutting taxes; putting more money into the hands of poor people; increasing spending on domestic programs like health care, education, and housing; or pulling out of Iraq?" The top response was "pulling out of Iraq": 48 percent said that would help "a great deal" and another 20 percent said it would help "some."

Another 43 percent said that "increased spending on domestic programs" would help "a great deal" and 27 percent said it would help some.