No self-respecting Washington policy wonk involved in the fiscal cliff negotiations can turn a blind eye to the public’s response to possible tax and spending changes. The public doesn’t always understand the terms being bandied about, though.  Previously, I noted confusion about the payroll tax.  Now I’d like to ...

When Mitt Romney’s 47% comments came to light, many were surprised that Romney’s claim that only 47% of households pay income taxes is, in fact, true.  To many people, this is outrageous.  Why should they be paying the federal taxes they do while so many fellow citizens get a free ...

Political scientists have long debated whether presidents can persuade people.  George Edwards has amassed a vast array of evidence against presidential persuasion.  Others, like Amnon Cavari in a recent paper, argue presidents can lead public opinion. The latter view was boosted by polls that showed ...