State of the Nation

NBC/WSJ [7/21/13] found 61% of Americans believe that things are on the wrong track in this country. ABC/WP [7/21/13] also found 61% with that view. PEW [7/21/13] found 67% dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country.

For the month of June 2013 “unemployment” stands at 7.4%, down 0.2 % from May 2013, and 0.1% from April, when the rate was 7.5%. However, this number does not include people who are working part-time, but want full-time employment. Nor does it include those who have not looked for work in the last four weeks. When those folks are added, we get an unemployed/underemployed number that is 13.8% for July 2013. [U.S. BLS]

Following is the July data for 2009-2013.



Gallup also does a survey which is a running, 30-day rolling average. Note that the unemployment number varies from that put out by the BLS. Following are the results for the years 2010-2013.

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Although it seems hard to believe, according to the Associated Press, citing exclusive research , “4 out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives....”

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31% of single-parent households report that, at times during the last year, they have had a hard time affording food. This is also reported by 19% of two- adult households with at least one child.

Overall, 69% of Americans say they have enough money to do what they need to do. This includes

• 43% of those making less than $24,000
• 61% of those making $24-36,000
• 71% of those making $36-48,000
• 80% of those making $48-60,000
• 82% of those making $60-90,000
• 87% of those making $90-120,000
• 86% of those making $120-180,000
• 87% of those making $180,000+

[Gallup 7/2-13]

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PEW Research reports the following about 18-31 year olds, the so-called “Millennials,” based on U.S. Census Bureau data.

• 36% of this group lived in their parents’ home in 2012, up from 32% in 2007
• 63% had jobs in 2012 down from 70% in 2007
• In 2012, 39% are enrolled in college, up from 35% in 2007
• In 2012, 25% are married, down from 30% in 2007

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Currently, 47% think that the Affordable Care Act is a bad idea, while 34% think it is a good idea. Since September 2009, the highest number to think it is a good idea was 40% (7/2012), and the highest number to think it is a bad idea was 49% (6/2013). There has never been a time when more people thought it was a good idea than a bad idea. The closest that public attitudes have come to that is in January 2011, when 39% thought it was a good idea and the same number thought it was a bad idea. [NBC/WSJ7/13]

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Of those who lean Republican, 52% think the leadership of the Republican Party is taking the Party in the wrong direction. 38% say they are taking it in the right direction. Of those who lean Democrat, 72% think the leadership of the Democratic Party is taking the party in the right direction, while 21% think the Party is being taken in the wrong direction. [WP/ABC 7/21/13]

Roughly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans think their Party has compromised too much in deal with the other Party.



67% of GOP voters believe that in order to do better in Presidential elections the Republican Party needs to address major problems with policy and strategy. [PEW 7/31/13]

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Whether Democrats or Republicans are “satisfied with the work the federal government is doing” in various areas depends on which Party controls the White House.

In 2013, with Barack Obama in the White House, 73% of Democrats are satisfied with the work being done by the government on the nation’s military and national defense, but only 35% of Republicans hold that view.

In 2005, with George W. Bush in the White House, 88% of Republicans, but only 34% of Democrats, were satisfied with the work being done on the military and national defense.

Seventeen of the same government actions were included in the questions asked in both 2013 and 2005. On not a single issue in 2013 (Obama is President) were the Republicans more satisfied than the Democrats. And, on no issue in 2005 (Bush is President) were the Democrats more satisfied than the Republicans. [Gallup 7/13]

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For the first time since mid-2005, more people disapprove than approve of the way the U.S. Supreme Court is handling its job. 43% approve and 46% disapprove. As recently as mid-2009, 61% registered approval, while only 28% registered disapproval of its work. [Gallup 7/14/2013]

When a different question is asked, the Court is seen in a more favorable light. Currently, 48% have a favorable view of the Court, while 38% hold an unfavorable view. Looking at 2009, 64% saw the Court favorably. In early 2007, 72% expressed a favorable view. [PEW 7/21/13]

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85% of Americans are still proud to be an American. This number is down some from mid-2002 when 92% expressed that view. Since 2005, the number expressing this sentiment has varied from 85% to 82%. [Gallup 7/2013]

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Over time , Americans accept change. In 1959, 4% of Americans favored marriage between blacks and whites. Today 87% see such marriages favorably. [Gallup 7/2013]

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The military is ranked on top when Americans are asked whether certain groups contribute “a lot to society’s well being.” 78% of respondents make that choice. Bringing up the bottom of the list are lawyers at 18%. Every group but one, business execs, has dropped some since PEW last asked this question in 2009. Here is the list: military 78%, teachers 72%, medical doctors 66%, scientists, 65%, engineers, 63%, clergy 37%, artists 30%, journalists 28%, business execs 24% (was 21%), lawyers 18%. [PEW March-May, 2013]

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In recent months considerable attention has been paid to the question of sexual assaults in the military. Pentagon reports suggest that 3,374 instances of sexual assault were reported in the fiscal year that ended last September 30th. And the Pentagon estimates that as many as 26,000 sexual assaults may have occurred in that year.

Legislation has been introduced in the Senate and House to change the way in which the military handles these cases.

One recent article on this subject caught WW’s eye. The author is Monica Medina, who served in the army for four years and was a special assistant to the Secretary of Defense. The article suggests a four step solution which seems to make sense.

"First, crack down on hard drinking and drugs. The military’s attitude toward these 'bad boy' behaviors is the true 'don’t ask, don’t tell' issue among the ranks.

Second, show offenders to the door.

Third, provide victims of sexual assault with their own lawyers.

Fourth, hire and promote more women. Half the U.S. population is female, but the share of women in our armed forces has peaked at around 15 percent."

The full article can be found in the Washington Post and The Cap Times.

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