Federal Reserve Rates Poorly With Americans

With the recession still raging, it may come as no surprise that many Americans’ opinions of the Federal Reserve, the government’s most important financial agency, have started to sour. This time in 2003, 53 percent of Americans thought the Federal Reserve was doing an excellent to good job, compared to 30 percent today, according to a recent Gallup poll.
 
One of the most contentious issues surrounding the Federal Reserve is the support of the taxpayer bailouts on the part of the Fed and its chairman, Ben Bernanke. However, many analysts also have determined that Bernanke’s actions have had a significant impact in preventing an even worse financial catastrophe.
 
Compared to nine other government agencies, the Federal Reserve has the least support among Americans, with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention topping the list with 61 percent of Americans satisfied with the job it is doing. The numbers may come into play next year, as Bernanke’s term will expire and President Obama will have to decide whether to reappoint him or to find a new Federal Reserve chairman.

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