Biden heads to Marine One, November, 2023. Getty // Chip Somodevilla
Q1. On Wednesday, President Biden gave his farewell address in which he said "Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead."
Do you agree with his statement?
Do you agree with his statement?
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes, and the oligarchy formed recently
23%
15%
30%
5%
18%
44%
14%
13%
25%
36%
23%
Yes, but been this way for many years
44%
48%
40%
32%
63%
52%
81%
43%
40%
34%
44%
No
32%
36%
28%
63%
19%
1%
5%
40%
34%
30%
32%
Don't know
1%
1%
1%
0%
0%
3%
0%
4%
0%
1%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Q2. President Eisenhower, in his farewell address, warned against a military-industrial complex in which the "complex" was the Defense Department and defense contractors working in cahoots lobbying Congress to inflate the defense budget against the country's better interest.
Biden in his address warned against a rising "tech-industrial complex," presumably by which he meant the risk from the outsized influence the tech sector has now thanks to their control of media, their development of powerful new technologies such as AI, and the personal wealth of their executives.
Which do you think was more dangerous, if either, for the US, the rise of the defense industry during the Cold War, or the rise of the tech sector in the information age?
Biden in his address warned against a rising "tech-industrial complex," presumably by which he meant the risk from the outsized influence the tech sector has now thanks to their control of media, their development of powerful new technologies such as AI, and the personal wealth of their executives.
Which do you think was more dangerous, if either, for the US, the rise of the defense industry during the Cold War, or the rise of the tech sector in the information age?
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Defense industry
24%
23%
23%
25%
40%
17%
30%
35%
18%
15%
24%
Tech sector
56%
52%
61%
43%
45%
73%
56%
39%
61%
71%
56%
Neither is dangerous
12%
17%
8%
22%
10%
2%
3%
16%
12%
12%
12%
Don't know
7%
7%
7%
7%
5%
7%
11%
7%
9%
2%
7%
Don't care
1%
2%
1%
3%
0%
0%
0%
3%
1%
0%
1%
Q3. In conclusion Biden said "My eternal thanks to you, the American people. After 50 years of public service, I give you my word, I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands, a nation where the strengths of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure."
Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972, at the age of 29.
Do you think 50 years in high office is a positive or negative in our politicians?
Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972, at the age of 29.
Do you think 50 years in high office is a positive or negative in our politicians?
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Very positive
10%
4%
15%
1%
4%
21%
11%
7%
8%
15%
10%
Positive
10%
7%
12%
1%
8%
20%
0%
10%
9%
16%
10%
Neither positive nor negative
20%
19%
20%
2%
31%
35%
43%
14%
18%
18%
20%
Negative
23%
23%
23%
27%
24%
18%
18%
31%
21%
18%
23%
Very negative
36%
46%
26%
69%
30%
2%
25%
34%
42%
33%
36%
Don't know
2%
1%
3%
0%
3%
4%
3%
5%
2%
0%
2%
Don't care
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Do you agree with President Eisenhower that the military-industrial complex poses danger to America?
50% Wholeheartedly
25% Somewhat
6% Not really
4% Not at all
Poll Comments (71)
