Awesome Every Day

Congress more popular than meth labs, less popular than Nickelback

cognitivedissonance:

Recently, Public Policy Polling sought to discover just how low the public’s opinion of Congress had fallen, testing the popularity of the U.S. Congress against twenty-six different, typically unpopular things. We all know that the American people have a less-than-favorable opinion of Congress (9% favorable and 85% unfavorable), but damn. The results weren’t pretty.

Here’s the outcome of PPP’s survey, in a handy illustrated form, from most to least popular thing:

#1:

 vs. 

When presented with a choice between Congress or Brussels sprouts, respondents gave a higher favorable rating to Brussels sprouts (69%) versus Congress (23%).

#2:

 vs. 

Survey takers had a higher opinion of lice (69%) than Congress (19%).

#3:

 vs. 

Respondents held colonoscopies in higher regard (58%) than Congress (31%).

#4:

 vs. 

Used car salesman beat out Congress 57% to 32%.

#5: 

 vs. 

Respondents had a higher opinion of actual traffic jams (56%) versus the metaphorical traffic jam of Congress (34%).

#6:

 vs. 

The NFL’s much-maligned replacement refs did better than Congress by a rate of 56% to 29%.

#7:

 vs. 

Root canals were chosen over Congress 56% to 32%.

#8:

 vs. 

The perceived snub launching “freedom fries” must be forgiven — 46% of people held a higher opinion of France, while Congress received a favorable rating of 37%.

#9: 

vs. 

Cockroaches have a remarkable ability to adapt to a changing environment. Perhaps this helps explain why they edge out Congress 45% to 43%.

#10:

 vs. 

It was nearly a tie between the Donald and Congress for a higher opinion rating. But Trump edged out Congress 44% to 42%.

#11:

vs. 

Respondents held a higher favorable opinion of Genghis Khan (41%) versus Congress (37%).

#12:

 vs. 

Carnies fared better than Congress in PPP’s popularity poll — 39% to 31%.

#13:

vs. 

I know, right? But PPP assures us that 39% of people hold a higher opinion of Nickelback than Congress. Respondents held Congress in higher esteem than the Canadian scourge at a rate of 32%.

#14:

 vs. 

Political Pundits were favored over Congress 37% to 34%.

But all is not lost. Here’s the choices with a lower favorability than Congress:

  

  

  

  

As PPP explains:

Congress did manage to beat out telemarketers (45-35), John Edwards (45-29), the Kardashians (49-36), lobbyists (48-30), North Korea (61-26), the ebola virus (53-25), Lindsay Lohan (45-41), Fidel Castro (54-32), playground bullies (43-38), meth labs (60- 21), communism (57-23), and gonorrhea (53-28).

Job well done, 112th Congress.

113th Congress, you’ve got some big shoes to fill.