In a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 60 percent of Americans say they would replace every single member of the current U.S. Congress, including their own representative. It is the highest percentage ever recorded for that question in the poll.
Just 35 percent of Americans say they would not defeat and replace all members of Congress.
Protesters hold placards urging the US Congress to end the federal government shutdown on October 9, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. With the shutdown in its ninth day and a potential economy-shaking federal default edging ever closer, neither side showed any sign of an agreement. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
The somewhat, though not entirely surprising poll comes as Congress remains gridlocked over the debt ceiling, the federal budget and Obamacare. While some are warning of the U.S. defaulting for the first time in history if a deal isn't reached, other experts say no matter what the U.S. would be able to pay the interest on its debt.
NBC News has more details on the poll:
The numbers reflect a broader trend over the last few years. Americans have traditionally said that while they might not like Congress, they usually like their own representatives. But that sentiment appears to have shifted.The throw-them-all-out attitude has slowly taken hold over the last three years, coinciding with two things – the rise of the Tea Party caucus in the House and the debt ceiling fight of 2011.
In October 2010, a majority of Americans – 50 percent to 47 percent – said they would not fire all congressional members. But by August 2011, 54 percent said they would toss every lawmaker from office; in January 2012, 56 percent said that; and just three months ago, in July, it was 57 percent.
Frustration was evident among poll respondents across the ideological spectrum.
We want to know what you think -- take our poll on the same question from the NBC/WSJ poll below:
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