A year before voting, a nation of discontent-Call us the Unhappy States of America

A year before voting, a nation of discontent



By Susan Page, USA TODAY
Call us the Unhappy States of America.

One year before Election Day 2008, most Americans are dismayed by the country's direction, pessimistic about the Iraq war and anxious about the economy. Two of three disapprove of the job President Bush is doing. Nearly a year after Democrats took control of Congress, three of four Americans say it isn't achieving much, either.

In all, 72% of those surveyed in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Oct. 12-14 say they are dissatisfied with how things are going in the USA while just 26% are satisfied. Not since April have even one-third of Americans been happy with the country's course, the longest national funk in 15 years.

"Don't get me wrong, America's a great country," says Lori Jones, 46, a medical assistant in Phoenix. But she worries about her family's finances and prospects for the next generation. "I think we've somehow lost our way."

There's plenty of time for attitudes to change before the election, of course, but the current landscape is the sort that in the past has prompted political upheaval and third-party candidacies. The last time the national mood was so gloomy was in 1992, when the first President Bush was ousted from the White House and H. Ross Perot received the highest percentage of the vote of any third-party candidate in 80 years. Bill Clinton was elected amid economic angst.

And the likely impact of the downbeat mood on next year's election?

"I'd rather be the Democratic candidate," says Joel Aberbach, director of the Center for American Politics and Public Policy at UCLA. Democratic presidential contenders are tapping desire for change. Now 53% of Americans surveyed have a favorable view of the Democratic Party; just 38% have a favorable view of the GOP.

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-10-31-mood-cover_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

although personally I'm not so unclear on that "somehow" part. You can debate the 'when' part, I think, but the how part is very clear. The MSM, corrupt politicians, religious fanatics and massive corporations are the culprits, in my opinion, and in no uncertain terms.

And as long as we continue to careen down this path, things will only get worse.