The American people appear as confused about what to do about the debt limit as most of the politicians in Washington, according to several polls released today.

Gallup says the people want "compromise."

Pew says the public is split on how urgent the crisis is.

CBS says the public is split on whether to raise the debt limit at all.

If they were to ask me - and they never would because I'm an aging white conservative male - I might tell them all to take a hike. If a politician is watching polls at this point, he isn't doing his job. The decisions that must be made over the next few days should not be based on the passions of the people as expressed in these snapshots of public opinion, but on the best way to save the United States from an economic collapse.