A recent political research study by the National Business Research Institute, Inc. (“NBRI”) shows that post-debate opinions of the 2008 Presidential Candidates changed when compared to pre-debate opinions. The initial survey was distributed to a random sample of 61,018 individuals in September, 2008, prior to the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates. NBRI received 2,571 completed surveys. The post-debate survey was distributed to a random sample of 56,386 individuals in October, 2008, just after the final Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates. NBRI received 2,138 completed surveys. A confidence level of 99% and a 3% sampling error was achieved. Independent Sample T-Tests were conducted to compare pre-debate and post-debate opinions. All statistics reported are significant at the .05 alpha level.

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In the past few weeks, the nation has been in the grip of a financial crisis that has shaken once mighty Wall Street institutions to the core, while Americans on Main Street nervously bite their nails.

“People are waking up from a gigantic hangover, trying to figure out what’s next,” John Schloegel, vice president of investment strategies for Austin-based Capital Cities Asset Management, told Reuters recently.

Frankly, the entire year has been one giant hangover for many Americans who have watched food and fuel prices elevate and their 401k’s and home values deflate. They’ve been whipsawed by fear that achieving affluence and a better world for their children has been derailed. According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a Washington, D.C. think tank, the current financial stall marked the first time since World War II that the typical family was worse off at the end of an economic expansion than at the start.

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Have you ever been lost or unsure of which direction to take? In today's technologically savvy world, we are less likely to find ourselves in this situation. We have cellular phones on which we can call and ask for directions or log on to the Internet and look up our destination on a map. Many vehicles are now equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) that takes the guesswork out of finding our destination. We simply enter the address of the place we want to go and follow the verbal prompts of the computer. If we fail to obey the prompts, the system will announce "recalculating" and begin to give us new directions. The only way it could get any easier is if the GPS would drive the vehicle for us.

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As of September 3, 2008, the average gasoline price in the United States was $3.69 (www.zfacts.com). Although the average gasoline price has dropped more than ten cents compared to the previous month, Americans are still feeling the strain at the pump. A recent political research study by the National Business Research Institute, Inc. (“NBRI”) shows that attitudes toward gasoline prices vary significantly by demographic group, such as Age, Gender, Annual Income, Level of Education, Marital Status, Political Party, Voter Registration Status, and State of Residence.