We Can't Get Much Satisfaction: So says Gallup.
The exception? Organized religion. We are not blaming our ministers, priests, and rabbis for our ills.
What to make of all this? It is not as easy to tell as it should be, because Gallup's questions are too vague. For instance, if you are unhappy with the size and power of the federal government, that could be because you think it is too large and strong, too small and weak, too large and weak, or too small and strong. (I could construct arguments for all four positions, and, given time, find people who believe in each of the four.)
But, even without the follow-up questions Gallup should have asked, we can, with some confidence, conclude that the American public is not happy with what has happened since 2008. And we are not giving our leaders high marks for trying hard; only 30 percent, a record low, are satisfied with our "moral and ethical climate".
(Some, having seen that headline, will want to hear the song from the Rolling Stones.)
When President Obama delivers his State of the Union speech Tuesday, he will be addressing a nation that is less satisfied with a variety of aspects of U.S. life than it was in 2008. Americans' satisfaction with six of seven different economic, moral, or governmental aspects is down significantly compared with Gallup's prior measurement three years ago, as the economy was slowing down but before the financial crisis hit.We are less satisfied with the quality of life, the opportunity to get ahead, our system of government, the size and power of the federal government, the moral and ethical climate, and the size and influence of major corporations.
The exception? Organized religion. We are not blaming our ministers, priests, and rabbis for our ills.
What to make of all this? It is not as easy to tell as it should be, because Gallup's questions are too vague. For instance, if you are unhappy with the size and power of the federal government, that could be because you think it is too large and strong, too small and weak, too large and weak, or too small and strong. (I could construct arguments for all four positions, and, given time, find people who believe in each of the four.)
But, even without the follow-up questions Gallup should have asked, we can, with some confidence, conclude that the American public is not happy with what has happened since 2008. And we are not giving our leaders high marks for trying hard; only 30 percent, a record low, are satisfied with our "moral and ethical climate".
(Some, having seen that headline, will want to hear the song from the Rolling Stones.)
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