*We Can't Get Much Satisfaction: *So says Gallup
<http://www.gallup.com/poll/145760/Satisfaction-Gov-Morality-Economy-Down.aspx>.
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 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a7cHPy04s8>.)
- 8:20 AM, 25 January 2011 [link]
<http://www.seanet.com/%7Ejimxc/Politics/January2011_4.html#jrm9554>
Got this from Jim Miller on Politics
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