Americans’ overall dissatisification with the state of the country is on a downward trend, according to a new Gallup poll, which shows declines in 10 major policy areas, including energy policy, the military, and the economy.
Gallup’s annual Mood of the Nation survey reflected a continual dour mood in the country as the coronavirus pandemic continues and President Joe Biden enters his second year in office.
Americans’ satisfaction with the economy dropped 10 points over the last year and a whopping 35 points over the past two years, a reflection of the country’s frustration with the fallout from the pandemic, which saw businesses shutter, large numbers of people quit, and dire jobs numbers.
Inflation is also likely a major factor in the declining number. It hit a record 7 per cent in December – a nearly 40 year high. Adminstration officials have defended Biden’s stewardship of the economy, pointing to the low unemployment rate.
A record number of people quit their jobs during Biden’s first year – with a record 4.5 million in November. The administration argues this is because the job market is competitive and that people want higher wages and better benefits.
Wages are up – the average hourly pay jumped 4.7% in December compared with a year ago. But the economy is still about 3.6 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic level.
Additionally, Americans’ faith in military strength and preparedness dropped 20 points over two years and their satisfaction in energy policy is down 17 points over two years, Gallup’s survey found.
Americans’ overall dissatisification with the state of America is on a downward trend, Gallup’s annual Mood of Nation survey found
Higher gas prices, Gallup said in its analysis, are the likely for the country’s frustration with energy policy. Prices also have risen for food and rent.
And the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members may still be affecting Americans’ thoughts on military preparedness.
Biden defended his decision to end that conflict, arguing the cost would have been higher if the United States had remained mired in the country. Democrats and Republicans alike criticized his handling of the situation.
‘I’m the fourth president who has faced the issue of whether and when to end this war. When I was running for president, I made a commitment to the American people that I would end this war. Today I’ve honored that commitment,’ the president said in August when he announced his exit strategy.
The Mood of the Nation survey also found there was a 23 point drop over the past two years in confidence in the nation’s policies to reduce or control crime. The country has seen a dramatic rise in violent crime during the pancemic where at least 12 major U.S. cities broken annual homicide records last year.
Gallup’s survey was conducted Jan. 3-16. The company asked Americans to indicate how satisfied they are with eight aspects of the U.S., including the quality of life, opportunity and the governmental system. The survey also polled on 21 different policy areas.
Other policy areas that saw declines were abortion policy – the issue has been back in the news thanks to a new, restrictive law enacted in Texas – government regulation of business, and the quality in both medical care and education.
Democrats, in particular, were dissatisified with abortion policy. There was a 14 point drop among that group – the only policy area that saw meaningful decline among President Biden’s party.
In a good sign, 69 per cent of U.S. adults are satisfied with the overall quality of life in the U.S. – the highest for any item measured in the survey.
But that percentage was down from 84 per cent happy with quality life in 2020.
It is closer to the 67 per cent measured last year – survey that came after the deadliest phase of the coronavirus pandemic and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In only one area – acceptance of gays and lesbians – Gallup found more Americans satisfied now than were in 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic.
Americans’ overall dissatisification with the state of the country is on a downward trend, according to a new Gallup poll – which came as President Joe Biden enters his second year in office
The record high level of inflation – it hit a nearly 40 year high last month – is believed to be behind Americans’ dissatisifaction with the economy
U.S military aircraft takes off at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, during the American withdraw – a new Gallup poll found Americans are dissatisified with the military
Earlier this month, Biden defended his first year on the job by bragging he has ‘outperformed’ expectations.
In his remarks marking one year in office, he began by tackling the two issues that are behind his own falling poll numbers: the COVID pandemic and the record high inflation hurting the economy. The president’s approval rating has dropped to the low 40s as voters give him low marks on those two issues.
‘It’s been a year of challenges but also been a year of enormous progress,’ Biden.
