A new poll conducted by Public Policy Polling demonstrates Americans prefer a wide range of frequently lambasted people, health ailments, and government agencies to Congress as the shutdown crisis continues, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Of the 31 questions asked to participants, some of the most noteworthy include deciding between Congress and hemorrhoids, witches, and toenail fungus -- all of which prevailed over the U.S. legislatures by 53 percent, 46 percent, and 44 percent respectively.
"Congress having an 8% approval rating tells us one thing about how unhappy voters are," said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. "But it's even more telling that voters have a lower opinion of it than annoyances like the DMV and jury duty, health issues like hemorrhoids, and even witches."
The polling group found that 85 percent of participants disapprove of Congress. Of the Republicans, Democrats, and independents polled, Republicans approved the most at 10 percent while very conservative voters polled 15 percent.
Participants also said they prefer zombies (43 percent), cock roaches (44 percent), and dog poop (47 percent) to the way Congress is currently functioning.
Despite a crumbling public opinion in the wake of the shutdown, members of Congress can be assured that they are still preferred over heroin, the Ebola virus, and Syria.
Researchers added in their conclusion that age played a significant factor in the results.
"Older voters disapprove of Congress at a higher rate than their younger counterparts. At least 85% of registered voters ages 30+ are critical of the legislature, compared to 70% of those between the ages of 18-29," researchers wrote.
Approval ratings for Congress have fallen dangerously low prior to the 2013 shutdown. In 2011, only 10 percent of Americans were satisfied with Congress, marking an all-time low that was also reached in June 2012.
