Web site readers divided on how soon economy will improve

More than a third of the respondents to a non-scientific Times-Gazette poll think it will be 2012 or beyond before the U.S. sees meaningful imporovement in the economy, but one in five believe the economy will turn around in the second half of this year.

The poll question was, "How soon do you expect to see meaningful recovery in the U.S. economy?"

Here is how the answers break down.

• The second half of this year (or sooner): 20.5 percent (153 votes)
• The first half of 2010: 19.7 percent (147 votes)
• The second half of 2010: 13.9 percent (104 votes)
• 2011: 9.6 percent (72 votes)
• 2012 or beyond: 36.3 percent (271 votes)

A total of 747 votes were cast.

Of the comments that were left, several were sharp personal attacks on either President Obama or his predecessor President Bush, from people who blamed economic woes on one or the other.

Obama "is trying to take over the country and he is not giving the state and people the rights they are entitled to," said one commenter.

A different commenter was skeptical that bailouts will do much to improve the economy soon. "It's going be a long time as long as the ones who got us in the mess get the bailout," wrote the commenter, "and not us who would put it right back into the economy. The rich will put it overseas again because they're going to fill [their] pockets."

Still another commenter said that repealing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) "is mandatory" if the economy is to improve.

Voluntary web site polls are considered non-scientific because there is no way to guarantee that the people who choose to participate represent a true cross-section of the intended population.