JORDAN -- Frustration among voters is growing and is only getting worse. Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter. Business as usual in Washington D.C. just isn't working for many people.
A recent Pew Research poll said 60% of people are frustrated with the government. That is the highest level in more than a decade. 26% of people said they were "angry" at how the government is working - also the highest level in more than ten years.
"What they're doing is arguing with each other. Quite honestly, they're acting like kids," said Jim Kiesa from Marcellus.
Kiesa and others had questions for Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle at a town hall meeting she hosted in Jordan on Tuesday night. Several people wanted to know how Congress would deal with the growing federal deficit. Several people made suggestions but like Washington D.C., it was hard to find agreement in Jordan. Tom Hanley from Fulton said higher taxes on the wealthy should be part of any solution.
"Tax cuts for the rich - the rich don't spend their money on hiring more people when they have more money in their pocket, we've seen that," said Hanley.
Others said a smaller, less expensive government was the best way to help grow the economy.
Buerkle also said she believes that automatic spending cuts should take place since the bi-partisan "super committee" failed to reduce the deficit. Now Buerkle says both parties need to let the private sector create jobs - or voter frustration will continue to rise.
"I think the economy and jobs is on everybody's mind. And rather than attacking those problems, there's all this partisan bickering going on and I think that's the frustration you hear with people. We've got to go something to get this economy going, we've got to put a pro-growth economic agenda in place," said Buerkle.
