State of the Nation

From mid-September to mid-October those thinking that the country is headed in the right direction range from 38%-41%, while those thinking it continues on the wrong track range from 48%-53%. [NatJourFD, AP, CBS/NYT, NBC/WSJ]

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National unemployment hit 9.8% in September, with experts predicting that it will hit 10.5% in 2010, before topping out. When those who are underemployed or are no longer looking are taken into account, the effective unemployment rate is probably 17-18%.

263,000 jobs were lost in September and a total of 5.6 million jobs were lost in the year ending March 31, 2009.

39% of people who are self-employed are completely satisfied with their jobs. This is only true of 22% are not self-employed. [Pew 9/09]

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When respondents were offered the opportunity to answer an open-ended question about “what is the most important problem facing the country today," 3 issues break into double digits.



Of note is that the economy/jobs, which scored at 61% in January, now only head the list for 41% of us. On the other hand, healthcare has jumped up substantially, most likely driven by the healthcare reform debate rather than an underlying concern about the subject.

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45% of Americans believe that there is too much government regulation of business and industry. 27% say there is the right amount of such regulation, and 24% say there is too little.

70% of Americans are of the view that at least 26% of every dollar collected by the Federal Government is wasted. Half that number believe that 51% or more of every dollar is wasted. [Gallup 9/09]

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Those who identify as Democrats/Democratic-leaning independents and those who identify as Republicans/Republican-leaning independents are roughly equal in number to what they were in early 2005.

There was not a Democratic or leaners margin in 2005. The margin in the 3rd quarter of 2009 was 6 points for the Democrats and leaners.

The high points for Democrats and leaners was a 14-point margin during the 4th quarter of 2006 and the 1st quarter of 2008, and a 13-point margin in January 2009. There was no time during this 5 year period when Republicans and leaners enjoyed a positive margin.

However, in terms of those who identify only as Democrats or Republicans (without leaners), there was a 2-point margin for the Republicans in 2005, which has grown to a 8-point margin for the Democrats in 2009.

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While the Democratic Party is seen favorably by 51% of Americans, only 40% have that view of the Republican Party. That margin is only 4 points among men ,but 17 points among women. [Gallup 9/09]

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45% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of "trust and confidence" that the news will be reported accurately and fairly by the mass media – newspapers, TV and radio. In 1999 that number was 55%. 18% do not trust the media.

By 45% to 15% these respondents think the media is too liberal versus too conservative. It will come as no surprise that Republicans see the media as being biased (74%) on the liberal side, while 53% of Democrats see the media as being just about right. 45% of Independents hold the "too liberal" view.

About 36% follow national political news very closely. This group includes 41% of Republicans, 37% of Independents, and 30% of Democrats. Men at 42% are more attentive than women at 30% in the "follow very closely" group. [Gallup 9 & 10/09]

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There has been a rather dramatic change in attitudes on two historically contentious issues over the past 15+ years, abortion and gun control.

Over the last 15 years the number of people who identify themselves as pro- life or pro-choice has changed substantially. In 1996, 56% of Americans described themselves pro-choice. Now that number is 46%. Perhaps of even more impact, 47% now describe themselves as pro-life, up from 33% in 1996. The spread between the two options was as great as 11 points in May of this year.

Of further interest is that Catholics and non-Catholics are identical in their view of the "moral acceptability" of abortion. 40% of Catholics and 41% of non- Catholics find abortion to be morally acceptable. [Gallup 8 & 3/09]

Another major change over the last 18 years is public attitudes toward gun control laws. There has been a dramatic shift in the number of folks supporting more strict laws.

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