Oily goo and slick politics

The sight of dead birds wrapped in tar has mesmerized American TV audiences, yet when it comes to polls, the BP disaster is not at the top of the list of what worries people the most. The economy and an overall rejection of congress as it is now, elicits more responses. All that and more in this week’s “What Are We Thinking” with Frank Newport, Editor-in-Chief on the Gallup Poll and WHYY’s Dave Heller.

The sight of dead birds wrapped in tar has mesmerized American TV audiences, yet when it comes to polls, the BP disaster is not at the top of the list of what worries people the most. The economy and an overall rejection of congress as it is now, elicits more responses. All that and more in this week’s What Are We Thinking with Frank Newport, Editor-in-Chief on the Gallup Poll and WHYY’s Dave Heller. [audio: gallup20100604.mp3]

This week on What Are We Thinking:

– Both Republicans and Democrats reach near lows in terms of their party’s image with the American public.

– The Happiness factor: there’s an increase rather than a decrease in happiness as we get older!

– New data on when we exercise and who exercises the most. Surprise! Older Americans are just as active if not more so than younger Americans, and more!