A bit for 2301 - and our upcoming discussion of public opinion, and our ongoing exploration of the relationship between public opinion and the different institution: According to the Gallup Poll, twice as many Americans - 42% to 22% - oppose increasing the debt ceiling as support increasing it. 35% admit to not knowing enough to give an opinion - a large chunk.
Here are the numbers:
The numbers vary depending on partisanship, but independents answer the question the same as Republicans. They oppose raising it 4 to1. Respondents are more concerned about runaway spending than the economic crisis that would likely follow a refusal to increase it.