Washington (CNN) – Two-thirds of all Americans say that things are going badly in the country today, according to a new national poll. But a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey indicates that the public's mood has improved over the past year.
Sixty-seven percent of people questioned say things are going badly in the country, with 32 percent saying that things are going well. The 67 percent is down 10 points from a year ago.
CNN Polling Director Keating Holland say the new numbers paint "a fairly negative view of the state of the country, but a significant improvement over the mood of the nation a year ago."
The survey indicates that optimism appears to have peaked last November, when the number who thought things were going well was at 37 percent.
"Americans' assessments of the state of the country are closely tied to their political views," adds Holland. "Half of Democrats questioned say things are going well, compared to just 27 percent of Independents and 18 percent of Republicans."
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted March 19-21, with 1,030 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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i think most americans are just plain depressed over the hatred.lies an nastyness that the republicans have shown since we the majority elected our president. i hate fox news ie: ,glen beck, sarah palin,hannity an that fat pig limbaugh. they have done more harm to this country since barack obama was elected,and should i say he is a black man than any enemy could do for america. i have never seen such open disrespect for an american president in all my 64 years. sarah palin opened this poison box when john mccain acted like the fool he is an chose this uneducated racist to be his running mate. she is the one that needs to be banished back to alaska an made stay there with her guns an amunition. yep..load her up and ship her off!
Wait till we start getting our tax hike for the healthcare bill. 67% will be 87.
Of course things are bad. What we got for trusting the party of greed has turned this country on her ear. President Obama is accountable. He also is doing a great job in turning things around. The people with short memories just need to remember that 2 wars, over-spending by the republican President, tax cuts for the wealthy, and greed got us here in the first place. The party of Limbaugh, bachmann, mcconnell, cantor, beack and hannity will NEVER be the answer for America.
Polls are not truly acurate as they normally rely on voter registrations. If you want true polls pick up your phone book and call everyone in it then you can say it is a true balance of all the people. Otherwise it is just a sampling of some people.
As to the health care law.
If you - lose your job/grow old/retire from military/can't afford to feed your family/etc. to whom do you turn? The government...unemployment/social security/VA/welfare. You get the gist. But when the government attempts to force you into helping yourself you scream. By forcing you to have insurance you do have to help yourself, as, you have to make adjustments to how you spend to afford it. I don't agree with what was passed but will adjust to it, as will we all.
While things may be going as badly as the 1930's, I believe we have turned the corner and made progress under Pres. Obama's administration.
My reasons include: 1) healthcare reform for all, 2) rescue from the 2009 financial panic, 3) beginning of job recovery (162,000 jobs added in March), 4) housing market stabilized, 5) stock market recovered, 6) my IRA has recovered, 7) nuclear agreement with Russia, 8) student loan reform, 9) re-directed strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan, 10), re-directed energy policy to include drilling, alternative sources, conservation, 11) restored respect for America throughout the world, etc., etc. All economists agree the leading indicators are positive. I invite others to add to my list.
We're in a recession here, most people are having a hard time in life!! I think that's what these #s are showing.
I didn't see this many people complaining when Bush was getting is here w/ his multiple tax cuts for the super rich in a time of war (which he lied us in)!
I'm interested to see how people feel in 2 years when things are really turning for the better in the job markets ...
Missing form the poll was the question- are things getting better? or at least missing form this posting.
Or who do you blame for the current problems?
Those would be interesting results to see.
DUHHH!
What do you expect when Faux News, talk radio, and conservative TV spew constant hate and negativism even before President Obama takes office in January 2009.
My GOD cnn, , , do we have to do all your news analysis?
This is no surprise. Prez Obummer has spent more money in his first year in office than the previous 43 Presidents COMBINED! He is the most radical President ever and is a national disgrace. Obummer makes Jimmy Carter look like a conservative.
Seems like the Republicans and Rush and Fox news are all that trying to spread their fear,is it so hard to read for ones self to actually see what might be in a bill.I forgot the number one leader Palin.If we had not gotten into the mess we were in when Bush left we would be ahead the game .