Americans Generally Satisfied With State of Nation This July 4th

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- Independence Day is a natural time to take stock of Americans' perceptions about the state of their nation on a variety of fronts. Celebrated across the country on Tuesday, the July 4th holiday commemorates the principles on which the United States was founded. A review of several important Gallup indicators reveals that in this year 2000 there is a generally positive public spirit among United States citizens, with Americans increasingly satisfied in recent years with the state of the nation domestically and with its position in the world.

State of the Nation

According to a June 22-25 Gallup poll, Americans are relatively upbeat about the general direction of the nation, with 56% saying they are satisfied with the way things are going and only 39% dissatisfied. While this satisfaction measure is lower today than it was earlier this year, the current rate of public satisfaction is high by historical terms. Since Gallup began tracking this measure of public mood in 1979, the average satisfaction level has been only 43%, with 53% of Americans feeling dissatisfied. Satisfaction with the state of the nation reached its pinnacle in February 1999, when nearly three-quarters of American adults (71%) reported feeling satisfied and only 26% were dissatisfied. In contrast, this measure reached its lowest point of the last 20 years in June 1992, when only 14% of those surveyed reported satisfaction and 84% reported dissatisfaction.

The increase in Americans' positive outlook over the last decade is also evident across specific aspects of life:

• According to Gallup Poll data collected January 7-10, 2000, satisfaction with the state of the nation's economy has more than tripled (from 25% to 83% "very" or "somewhat" satisfied) since January 1993.
• Over the same time span, satisfaction with the nation's progress in reducing poverty and homelessness has nearly doubled (from 23% to 44%).
• There is higher satisfaction with the availability and affordability of health care today than in the past (23% in 1993 compared to 40% today).
• Satisfaction with the opportunity for the next generation of Americans to live better than their parents has increased substantially, from 42% to 69%.
• A majority of Americans are now satisfied with the quality of education and with the opportunity for a poor person in America to get ahead by working hard, whereas most were dissatisfied with these aspects of life in 1993.
• There is one area on which Americans express significant dissatisfaction -- moral values. Only 27% of the public say they are currently satisfied with moral values in the nation today, compared to 72% who are dissatisfied.

Americans Think the Nation Is Viewed Favorably in the Eyes of the World

Another important indicator of Americans' high spirits on this July 4th is a measure of the public's perception of the U.S. position in the world. According to a Gallup poll conducted May 18-21, 2000, nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) believe that the United States rates favorably in the eyes of the world. This includes 20% who believe the U.S. rates "very favorably" and 53% who say the U.S. rates "somewhat favorably." Just 26% think the U.S. is viewed unfavorably to any degree.

With respect to international strength, most Americans are positive about the country's dominant position militarily, but fewer are positive when it comes to economic dominance. A majority of Americans today (56%) believe the U.S. ranks number one in the world militarily, compared to only 39% who believe the U.S. ranks number one economically. However, when Americans are asked about the importance of these positions, it becomes clear that they do not believe economic supremacy is necessary in this day and age. Only 43% think it is important for the U.S. to be number one among nations economically -- representing only a 4-point gap between economic ratings and expectations. Many more Americans (70%) feel military dominance is important (compared to the 56% who believe the U.S. has achieved that) -- representing a 14-point gap. Thus, more Americans appear to be satisfied with what they perceive to be the United States' economic stature than with its military stature.

Reinforcing the sense that Americans are currently in a buoyant mood, trend data show more Americans are positive today about the U.S. position in the world economically than were when the question was first asked in 1993. At that time only 21% thought the U.S. ranked number one, compared to 39% today. During the same time, there has been a slight decrease in perceived military power, with the percentage rating the U.S. number one falling from 63% to 56%.

Survey Methods

The results below are based on telephone interviews with randomly selected national samples of 1,021 adults, 18 years and older, conducted June 22-25, 2000; 1,011 adults, conducted May 18-21, 2000; 1,633 adults, conducted January 7-10, 2000; and 1,028 adults, conducted August 24-26, 1999. For results based on these samples, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?

 

	Satis fied	Dis satis fied	No opinion			Satis fied	Dis satis fied	No opinion
	%	%	%			%	%	%
2000 Jun 22-25	56	39	5
					1994 Jul 15-17	33	65	2
2000 May 18-21	55	42	3		1994 May 20-22	33	64	3
2000 Apr 3-9	59	37	4		1994 Apr 22-24	32	65	3
2000 Feb 25-27	65	32	3		1994 Mar 25-27	35	62	3
2000 Jan 7-10	69	28	3		1994 Feb 26-28	36	61	3
1999 Sep 23-26	52	45	3		1994 Jan 15-17	35	62	3
1999 Aug 24-26	62	35	3		1993 Dec 4-6	34	63	3
1999 Jun 11-13	55	42	3		1993 Nov 2-4	27	70	3
1999 May 23-24	51	46	3		1993 May 21-23	24	73	3
1999 Apr 26-27	51	45	4		1993 Feb 12-14	25	71	4
1999 Apr 13-14	58	39	3		1993 Jan 8-11	29	68	3
1999 Feb 12-13	71	26	3		1992 Nov 10-11	26	68	6
1999 Jan 15-17	70	28	2		1992 Aug 28-Sep 2***	22	73	5
1998 Dec 28-29	50	48	2		1992 June 12-14	14	84	2
1998 Oct 29-Nov 1	60	34	6		1992 May 7-10	20	77	3
1998 Aug 21-23	63	34	3		1992 Apr 20-22^	19	80	1
1998 Aug 10-12	60	36	4		1992 Feb 28-Mar 1	21	78	1
1998 May 8-10	59	36	5		1992 Jan 31-Feb 2^	24	75	1
1998 Apr 17-19	58	38	4		1992 Jan 3-6^	24	74	2
1998 Feb 20-22	64	32	4		1991 Dec	37	60	3
1998 Feb 13-15	59	37	4		1991 Nov	35	62	3
1998 Jan 30-Feb 1	63	35	2		1991 Oct	39	57	4
1997 Dec 18-21	50	46	4		1991 Aug	49	45	5
1997 Aug 22-25	50	48	2		1991 Mar 21-24	52	43	5
1997 May 6-7	46	51	3		1991 Feb 28-Mar 3	66	31	3
1997 Jan 10-13	50	47	3		1991 Feb	54	40	6
1996 Dec 9-11	43	55	2		1991 Jan 17-20	62	33	5
1996 Nov 21-24	47	47	6		1991 Jan 3-6	32	61	7
1996 Oct 26-29	39	56	5		1990 Oct 25-28	31	66	3
1996 Aug 30-Sep 1	45	50	5		1990 Oct 11-14	29	67	4
1996 Aug 16-18	38	57	5		1990 Sep	37	58	5
1996 May 9-12	37	60	3		1990 Aug-Sep	51	44	5
1996 Mar 15-17	36	61	3		1990 Aug	43	51	6
1996 Mar 8-10	41	56	3		1990 Jul	45	51	4
1996 Jan 5-7	24	72	4		1990 Feb	55	39	6
1995 Aug 11-14	33	64	3		1989 Feb	45	50	5
1995 Jul 7-9	32	65	3		1988 Sep	56	40	4
1995 Mar 27-29	30	66	4		1988 May	41	54	5
1994 Nov 28-29	29	67	4		1987 Aug	45	49	6
1994 Nov 2-6	30	66	4		1986 Dec**	47	49	4
1994 Oct 22- 25	31	66	3		1986 Sep	58	38	4

 

	Satis fied	Dis satis fied	No opinion
	%	%	%
1986 Mar	66	30	4
1985 Nov	51	46	3
1984 Dec	52	40	8
1984 Sep	48	45	7
1984 Feb	50	46	4
1983 Aug	35	59	6
1982 Nov	24	72	4
1982 Apr	25	71	4
1981 Dec	27	67	6
1981 Jun	33	61	6
1981 Jan	17	78	5
1979 Nov	19	77	4
1979 Jul	12	84	4
1979 Feb	26	69	5

Notes:
^ Registered voters
** Gallup/Newsweek
***Gallup/CNN/Knight-Ridder

Next, I'd like you to rate your satisfaction with the state of the nation in some different areas. For each of the following areas, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied, or not at all satisfied. How about … the state of the nation's economy; progress in reducing poverty and homelessness; the quality of education; the availability and affordability of health care; the opportunity for the next generation of Americans to live better than their parents; the opportunity for a poor person in this country to get ahead by working hard; the moral values of this country?

 

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Not too satisfied	Not at all satisfied	No opinion
2000 Jan 7-10	37%	46	10	6	1
1997 Jan 10-13	12%	46	27	14	1
1993 Jan 8-11	3%	22	39	35	1

B. Progress in reducing poverty and homelessness

 

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Not too satisfied	Not at all satisfied	No opinion
2000 Jan 7-10	7%	37	33	21	2
1997 Jan 10-13	4%	32	38	24	1
1993 Jan 8-11	2%	21	37	39	2

C. The quality of education

 

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Not too satisfied	Not at all satisfied	No opinion
2000 Jan 7-10	13%	41	28	17	1
1997 Jan 10-13	10%	36	30	23	1
1993 Jan 8-11	8%	36	32	23	2

D. The availability and affordability of health care

 

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Not too satisfied	Not at all satisfied	No opinion
2000 Jan 7-10	10%	30	32	27	1
1997 Jan 10-13	9%	32	32	26	1
1993 Jan 8-11	3%	20	32	45	1

E. The opportunity for the next generation of Americans to live better than their parents

 

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Not too satisfied	Not at all satisfied	No opinion
2000 Jan 7-10	26%	43	20	9	2
1997 Jan 10-13	10%	35	32	21	2
1993 Jan 8-11	6%	36	33	27	2

F. The opportunity for a poor person in this country to get ahead by working hard

 

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Not too satisfied	Not at all satisfied	No opinion
2000 Jan 7-10	22%	38	22	17	1
1997 Jan 10-13	16%	34	28	21	1
1993 Jan 8-11	13%	29	27	30	1

G. The moral values of this country

 

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Not too satisfied	Not at all satisfied	No opinion
2000 Jan 7-10	4%	23	32	40	1
1997 Jan 10-13	--	--	--	--	--
1993 Jan 8-11	--	--	--	--	--

Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of education students receive in grades kindergarten through grade twelve in the U.S. today -- would you say completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely dissatisfied?

U.S. K-12 EDUCATION

 

	Completely satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Completely dissatisfied	No opinion
1999 Aug 24-26	8%	39	38	13	2

Using the same scale, how satisfied are you with the quality of the education you personally received, in kindergarten through grade twelve? (Would you say completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely dissatisfied?)

K-12 EDUCATION YOU RECEIVED

 

	Completely satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Completely dissatisfied	No opinion
1999 Aug 24-26	35%	46	13	5	1

Finally, how satisfied are you with the quality of education which college students receive in American colleges and universities today? (Would you say completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or completely dissatisfied?)

U.S. COLLEGE EDUCATION

 

	Completely satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Completely dissatisfied	No opinion
1999 Aug 24-26	19%	56	17	4	4

How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your job? Would you say you are -- completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or completely dissatisfied with your job?

 

	Completely satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Completely dissatisfied	No opinion
1999 Aug 24-26	39%	47	12	2	*
1997 Aug 22-25	35%	51	10	3	1
1991 Jul 25-28	31%	30	6	6	28
1989 Jul 18-21	28%	61	8	3	*

U.S. AS #1 (ECONOMY/MILITARY)

In general, how do you think the United States rates in the eyes of the world -- very favorably, somewhat favorably, somewhat unfavorably, or very unfavorably?

 

	Very favorably	Somewhat favorably	Somewhat unfavorably	Very unfavorably	No opinion
2000 May 18-21	20%	53	22	4	1

Do you think the United States is number one in the world economically, or that it is only one of several leading economic powers?

 

	U.S. is number one economically	U.S. is one of several leading powers	NEITHER (vol.)	No opinion
2000 May 18-21	39%	60	*	1
1999 May 7-9	40%	56	1	3
1993 Mar 29-31	21%	76	*	3

Do you feel that it's important for the United States to be number one in the world economically, or that being number one is not that important, as long as the U.S. is among the leading economic powers?

 

	Is important	Is not that important	No opinion
2000 May 18-21	43%	56	1
1999 May 7-9	41%	56	3
1993 Mar 29-31	46%	53	1

Do you think the United States is number one in the world militarily, or that it is only one of several leading military powers?

 

	U.S. is number one militarily	U.S. is one of several leading powers	NEITHER (vol.)	No opinion
2000 May 18-21	56%	41	*	3
1999 May 7-9	51%	46	1	2
1993 Mar 29-31	63%	34	1	2

Do you feel that it's important for the United States to be number one in the world militarily, or that being number one is not that important, as long as the U.S. is among the leading military powers?

 

	Is important	Is not that important	No opinion
2000 May 18-21	70%	29	1
1999 May 7-9	59%	39	2
1993 Mar 29-31	61%	37	2

* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) Volunteered response