Harris Poll: Americans fault others for buying what they can’t afford.
Who’s winning and losing the “blame game” over the financial crisis? A new Harris Poll has some answers.
— Two-thirds of Americans (66%) believe advertising agencies have at least some responsibility for the current economic crisis because they caused people to buy things they couldn’t afford. In fact, one-third (33%) believe they have complete or a great deal of responsibility;
— Print media, such as newspapers and magazines, are deemed to have at least some responsibility by almost three in five Americans (59%) while 56% of Americans say news and other information websites bear at least some responsibility for the economic crisis;
— Just over half of Americans say talk shows on TV or radio (55%), cable news programs (54%) and network and local news programs (53%) all have at least some responsibility for the current economic crisis because they caused people to buy things they couldn’t afford; and,
— Friends and family come out a little better – just over half (54%) say they do not have that much responsibility or no responsibility at all for causing Americans to buy things they couldn’t afford.
There is also an age divide over who is to blame for the economic crisis. People aged 55 and older are more likely to blame the five media categories and the advertising agencies. On the flip side, those aged 18-34 are less likely to say these six groups have at least some responsibility. For example, three-quarters of the older age group (75%) say advertising agencies have at least some responsibility compared to three in five (60%) 18-34 year olds. When it comes to print media, two-thirds of those aged 55 and older (67%) say they have at least some responsibility while just half of the younger age group (51%) say print media has at least some responsibility.
So What?
Harris comments:
Americans are angry and upset about the state of the economy and need someone or some group to blame. The media is always a perfect scapegoat when it comes to taking the blame, whether it’s a political slogan such as 1992’s “Annoy the media, re-elect President Bush” or causing the recent economic crisis. Advertising agencies, however, are normally under the radar screen. Now, thanks to television shows like “Mad Men” and “Trust Me,” they are slightly more visible and they are an easy scapegoat.
2 Responses to “Over-leveraged and under water? Americans blame media, ad agencies.”
Lynn M
I think there are a lot of mixed messages out there on what consumers are suppose to do. They’ve been told they are irresponsible for spending what they can not afford, but are urged to go out and buy a new car to help the auto industry. Financial/insurance executives are blasted for excessive luxury excursions for corporate meetings after taking bailout money (and that seems to make sense) but the hospitality industry is crying out that these cancelled meetings (including companies and banks that haven’t even taken bailout funds) are costing them revenue and jobs. It’s hurting hotels, restaurants, and retail locations in locations like Las Vegas. What can the consumers and businesses do to help the economy when out-of-control spending is what created these products and services to begin with? Financial insecurity, guilt, and public relations concerns have them holding back now which just adds to the downward spiral and the media seems to feed on the negative — the worse, the better. Blame doesn’t really matter anymore, but how to correct the situation.
Bonnie
Isn’t part of the accountability problem illustrated by the question Harris asked?