Pew - Political Knowledge Update

[^_^ 5,021]

Only about a third of Americans (34%) know that the government's bailout of banks and financial institutions was enacted under the Bush administration. Nearly half (47%) incorrectly say that the Troubled Asset Relief Program -- widely known as TARP -- was signed into law by President Obama.

Even fewer (28%) are able to identify John Roberts as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. And just 19% know that David Cameron is the new prime minister of Great Britain.

...

A large majority of Americans (73%) know that Congress did pass a major health care reform bill this year. Though health care dominated the public's news interest most weeks during the lengthy debate over the legislation, 14% say Congress did not pass health care legislation this year and 13% do not know.

...

The public's awareness of the current unemployment rate has changed little over the past year. In the new survey, 54% say the rate is about 10%; about a quarter of Americans (26%) estimate the rate higher (at 15% or 20%) while just 3% say it is lower (at 5%). Since early May, the public has closely tracked news about the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. About half (51%) know that the damaged well is about 5,000 feet underwater.

Almost half (46%) correctly choose Greece when asked which European country recently received a major bailout from the European Union. Small percentages (13%) choose an incorrect option, and 41% say they do not know.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1668/political-news-iq-update-7-2010-twitter-tarp-roberts

[Ban Hammer 13,508]

99% of americans know who aj is.