Congress Less Popular than Lice, Cockroaches and Donald Trump
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — How little regard does the American public have for Congress? Lawmakers may not want to know but Public Policy Polling is going to tell them anyway.
After all the partisan bickering and fights with the White House, 85 percent of the 830 respondents to the PPP survey have an unfavorable view of their elected representatives, compared to the 9 percent who approve of the job they’ve done.
However, PPP wanted to learn just how Congress stacks up against about two dozen things that Americans are typically not fond of, and by and large, Washington comes out on the short end of the stick, time and time again. For instance:
Americans prefer Brussel sprouts to Congress by 69 percent to 23 percent. In fact, lice get the nod over Congress by 67 percent to 19 percent.
Colonoscopies also beat Congress by 58 percent to 31 percent, while root canals are easily more favored, 56 percent to 32 percent.
Cockroaches are vile, little creatures but seemingly not so vile as congressmen, winning that head-to-head competition, 45 percent to 43 percent.
One of the most controversial figures in America, Donald Trump, is often the subject of ridicule but somehow, even he edges out D.C. lawmakers by 44 percent to 42 percent.
Another target of public disdain is the rock group Nickelback but even this Canadian band gets higher marks than Congress, 39 percent to 32 percent.
And that loveable Mongol from days of yore, Genghis Khan? He also tops Congress, 41 percent to 37 percent.
Traffic jams, carnies, used car salesmen, NFL replacement refs and France all get better approval ratings than Congress as well.
Surely, there must be something the public hates more than Congress. PPP says, yes, there are and the list isn’t too surprising.
The Capitol Gang beats Lindsey Lohan, 45 percent to 41 percent, the Kardashians, 49 percent to 36 percent and Fidel Castro, 54 percent 32 percent.
In fact, it’s not even close when it comes to other unpopular entities, with Congress winning easily over Gonorrhea, 58 percent to 32 percent, Ebola, 53 percent to 25 percent, North Korea 61 percent to 26 percent and meth labs by 60 percent to 21 percent.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio