Welcome to NAVIGATOR – a project designed to better understand the American public’s views on issues of the day and help advocates, elected officials, and other interested parties understand the language, imagery, and messaging needed to make and win key policy arguments.
GBAO conducted online focus groups on March 23, 2021 on behalf of Navigator with women in three areas: Raleigh-Durham, NC (healthcare industry, excluding doctors), Milwaukee, WI (service industry within the past year), and Phoenix, AZ (educators). Women could have multiple jobs across industries. Some quotes have been lightly edited for brevity. Qualitative results are not statistically projectable.
Key takeaways
- Knowledge of the American Rescue Plan is thin. But when told the components of the ARP, many see their or their family’s needs met by a list of the ARP’s components.
- Some also clearly see an urgent local need for relief and support, even if they are not sure they will personally benefit. There are also worries about fair distribution.
- While quite a few move with more information, a long list can be unwieldy or seem expensive, raising competing concerns about the debt with a desire to help.
Knowledge Of The ARP Is Thin
Beyond Checks, Many See Their—Or Their Family’s—Needs Met By Something In The Longer List Of ARP Components
Respondents were shown 13 components of the ARP.
There Is A Local Need For Relief
Participants Use Clinical Language To Explain Why Vaccine Distribution Is An Important Part Of The ARP
More Information Moves Respondents Toward Support
Worries Pervade About The Fairness Of Stimulus Checks And PPP Loan Distribution
Some Wonder If They Need Or Will Benefit From The Stimulus
Others—Particularly Trump Voters—Wrestle With Worries About The Debt And Acknowledgement Of The Need
A Long List Can Be Unwieldy To The Point Of Backfiring
