Survey: Americans Back Citizen Bailout

As U.S. auto industry executives beg for a bailout on Capitol Hill, tax payers' on Main Street are increasingly adding their voice to the choir.

In a poll, 56% said the government needs to do more to help average citizens through this recession, according to Consumer Reports.

The survey, conducted this fall, found that that only 17% of the 2,000 respondents felt the government needed to assist financial institutions or banks.

At the same time, according to the Consumer Reports poll, around 80% of respondents found the following financial issues to be important or very important:

• Ensure the financial health of the Social Security program.
• Reduce the national debt.
• Protect pensions and other retirement accounts when companies or financial institutions go under.
• Increase spending on energy exploration, energy efficiency, and alternative energy sources.
• Ensure affordable health care for all Americans.
• Increase regulation of financial institutions to ensure responsible practices.
• Extend federal insurance to all deposits in savings and money market accounts.
• Cut taxes for working Americans.

What do you find to be most important? Let MainStreet know if you think a bailout for the nation is in order.