HOOKSET, N.H. (December 11, 2012)--From New Hampshire diners to Colorado coffee shops, voters report widespread disdain over Washington's inability to resolve the so-called fiscal cliff.

Voters call the latest stalemate "pathetic," and suggest they have little faith that Congress will do the right thing.

Congress must approve a deal with President Barack Obama by the end of the year to prevent sweeping tax increases and massive spending cut, which some economists warn could trigger another economic recession.

The debate is a familiar one.

Last year an equally divided Washington nearly let the country default on its loan obligations.

The debt-ceiling debate led to dismal approval ratings for Congress and a drop in the nation's credit rating.

A recent poll found that just 23 percent of Americans approved of Congress' job performance.