janet yellen: the limit does exist

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Let’s smash that glass debt ceiling like it’s Hillary Clinton’s DNC intro video. ([link removed])
(Is this too niche? We feel like this is the right audience for that reference.)

Republicans have done it again. They have decided that a perfectly reasonable request is actually insanely unreasonable and they will block it for no other reason than to be difficult (and because they want spending cuts, they love that). This time, the victim is the debt limit.

A little background: the debt limit is the amount of money that the U.S. government can borrow before we go into an economic crisis and default on our debt. Not too cute. Other issues include losing the budget to fund programs like Social Security, Medicare, and federal workers’ wages. Just programs that people need to, you know, live. Data for Progress finds ([link removed]) 58% of voters support raising the debt limit, including 78% of Democrats, 56% of Independents, and 39% of Republicans.

Republicans refused to raise the debt ceiling unless Democrats agreed to spending cuts on social programs, which is honestly just a dick move and you can quote us on that (maybe). 63% of voters, including Republicans (!!!), think that Republican lawmakers should just give up the political bullfighting and raise the debt limit without forcing spending cuts. This includes 78% of Democrats, 59% of Independents, and 50% of Republicans.

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Okay, Democrats, you can leave for a moment. This message is just for the Republicans.

Now that it’s just us, what are you doing guys? You don’t have to “own the libs” on everything. Why don’t you take a beat, watch some Emily in Paris, think about why your own constituents depend on programs like Social Security and Medicare, and raise the debt ceiling so we don’t have an actual economic meltdown.

The country would really appreciate it, thanks.

Read the full blog and polling here ([link removed]) .

Here are some other highlights from DFP this week:

Voters think it’s time for the U.S. to stop being an asshole to the rest of the world.

For decades, the U.S. has been the world’s asshole neighbor. We brutally overthrow governments ([link removed]) , create climate catastrophe ([link removed]) , and do abysmally little ([link removed]) to fix the problems we create.

However, voters think it’s time we start being a bit more conscientious about how we treat the rest of the world. In a new survey ([link removed]) , Data for Progress finds 70% of voters believe that the U.S. should have a refugee program that helps bring some people seeking refuge safely to the United States. This includes 86% of Democrats, 64% of Independents, and 60% of Republicans. That’s probably a reasonable way to help people who are escaping unbelievably painful and dire circumstances. Just a thought!

Interestingly, our polling finds that exposure to refugees really matters in shaping voters’ points of view. 89% of voters who know a refugee think the U.S. government should have a refugee program, compared to 68% of voters who don’t know a refugee.

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The U.S. has the resources to make a huge difference in thousands of lives by accepting more refugees. Creating a refugee program could help us bring new opportunities to people facing unthinkably cruel predicaments — and it's a policy voters overwhelmingly support.

Read the full blog and polling here ([link removed]) .

New York is living the high life and U.S. voters want in on the deal.

Thanks to the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, New Yorkers have been able to enjoy the little things in life, like going to the Met high and absolutely freaking out over Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat ([link removed]) (it’s pretty trippy no matter how sober you are, we stand by this).

The 2021 act legalized adult use of recreational marijuana in New York and mandated that the first 100-200 dispensary licenses be reserved for individuals and communities affected by cannabis prohibition, along with stipulating that 40% of the marijuana revenue collected by the state will be diverted to a community grant fund. Data for Progress finds ([link removed]) voters think the rest of the country should get in on this. 65% of voters support legalizing the use of recreational marijuana, including 75% of Democrats, 67% of Independents, and 52% of Republicans.

57% of voters are also in favor of granting licenses to individuals affected by cannabis prohibition. This includes 69% of Democrats, 59% of Independents, and 43% of Republicans.

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U.S. government, it’s your move now. Voters clearly support the programs already implemented in New York, so why not give it a go and get down with legally getting high?

Read the full blog and polling here ([link removed]) .

Meme of the Week
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