A majority of Americans are opposed to the federal government helping out banks that made bad loans or homeowners who borrowed more than they could afford, a Fox 5/The Washington Times/Rasmussen poll reported yesterday.
Despite moves by the Federal Reserve Board and other federal agencies to provide cash, low interest, short-term loans and other assistance to investment banks and a troubled mortgage industry, Americans opposed such actions 61 percent to 15 percent, the survey found. Another 23 percent were undecided on the issue.
The poll also found that Americans — 53 percent to 29 percent — were opposed to helping out people who bought homes they could not afford. The issue left 17 percent undecided.
Sharp differences about the topics were found between men and women, and whites and blacks.
On whether the government should help out credit-strapped financial institutions, 70 percent of men were opposed, compared with 53 percent of women, while 64 percent of whites were opposed compared with 45 percent of blacks.
Incomes also influenced responses, with opposition strongest among higher-income Americans. The survey found 53 percent of Americans earning less than $20,000 opposed any help for ailing banks, compared with 70 percent opposition among people making more than $100,000.