CBS NEWS POLL For Release: Monday, January 4, 2010 For ...

[Pages:4]CBS NEWS POLL For Release: Monday, January 4, 2010

For release: 6:30 pm (EST)

WHERE AMERICA STANDS: THE STATE OF AMERICA AND ITS FUTURE December 17-22, 2009

As the country looks ahead to a new decade, more than half of Americans say they are generally optimistic about America's future over the next few years. But when assessing opportunities for success in their own lives, Americans are less positive now than they were at the start of the 21st century -- 10 years ago.

56% are optimistic about the future of the U.S, while 38% are pessimistic about where the country is headed.

FUTURE OF THE U.S. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS

Now

3/1996

Optimistic

56%

59%

Pessimistic

38

31

Younger Americans are more optimistic than those who are older. Seniors are least likely to be optimistic, with fewer than half (45%) saying they are. Political leanings matter too: Most Democrats (74%) are optimistic about the future of the U.S., while 58% of Republicans say they are pessimistic.

Still, fewer than half of Americans - 47% - say they have a better chance at success than their parents' generation did ? a drop of 25 points from early 2000. Today, 27% say their opportunities to succeed in life are worse than their parents' generation -- five times higher than the number who said that a decade ago.

COMPARED TO YOUR PARENTS' GENERATION, ARE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES...

Now

6/2007

2/2000

Better

47%

62%

72%

Same

24

18

22

Worse

27

18

5

There are striking gender differences, with 53% of women saying their opportunities for success are better than their parents, compared to just 40% of men who say that.

On this question, people age 65 and over ? some of whose parents may have lived through the Great Depression ? hold the most positive view of any age group.

The economy plays a role too. Among Americans who think the economy is in very bad shape, just a third says their opportunities to succeed in

life are better than their parents with more ? 44% - saying their opportunities are worse.

COMPARED TO YOUR PARENTS' GENERATION, ARE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES...?

Better

Same

Worse

Total

47%

24

27

Men Women

40%

27

32

53%

21

24

Age 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+

49%

27

23

41%

24

33

43%

25

29

60%

16

20

Republican Democrat Independent

44%

28

27

56%

23

19

40%

21

35

Economy is... Good Fairly bad Very bad

60%

31

8

49%

25

23

34%

20

44

Overall, most Americans say they are satisfied with the way things are going in their own lives, but just 22% are completely satisfied. Americans' degree of satisfaction with their own lives has changed little over the years.

Income levels have an impact: those with higher incomes are more likely to be satisfied with how things are going for them compared to those earning less.

SATISFIED WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN YOUR LIFE?

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