CNN/ORC Poll: Jump in percentage of those saying things not going well
Washington (CNN) - Americans views on the state of the nation are turning increasingly sour, according to a new national poll.
And a CNN/ORC International survey released Friday also indicates that less than a quarter of the public says that economic conditions are improving, while nearly four in ten say the nation's economy is getting worse.
Forty-one percent of those questioned in the poll say things are going well in the country today, down nine percentage points from April, and the lowest that number has been in CNN polling since February 2012. Fifty-nine percent say things are going badly, up nine points from April.
Besides an obvious partisan divide, which contributes to a urban-rural gap, the survey also indicates a difference of opinion between younger and older Americans.
"There's a slight generational divide, with 46% of those under age 50 saying things are going well. That number drops to 36% for those 50 and older," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
Looking specifically at the economy, 39% feel that the economy is still in a downturn, up six points from April. Only 24% believe that an economic recovery is under way. Thirty-six percent are in the middle - they don't think we're in a recovery but they believe conditions have stabilized.
Again, the survey indicates partisan and geographic divides, as well as a generational gap, with 45% of those age 50 and older, but only 34% of those under age 50 saying the economy's still in a downturn.
The poll was conducted November 18-20 for CNN by ORC International, with 843 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
It semms the effects of the Kool Aid are wearing off.
For many people, whether the economy is improving or not – doesn't fit into the gloom & doom narrative that wish to disseminate during this Administration or while that man is still in the Oval Office.
All the polls show that most Americans don't like this president and congress.
No amount of blaming other is going to change the facts. Obama is the president .has been for five yrs.
These polls don't mean much. I'm convinced that 90% of Americans are clueless about the economy and that their uneducated opinions are the result of biased media outlets on both sides. Most people are mindless sheep the left and right try to herd and its only getting worse. You are an ignorant fool if you think one party or politician cares about you. 2 things drive our political system, money and power. Those on each side will do anything to keep it at the expense of those they claim to represent.
First of all, Wall Street chiefs are DEMS and they are after nothing more than more power and wealth and the Big O's policies are right in line with that. Second, it is often confused that Republicans are for big business. If fact they are for all business and in particular small business. This is important since there is a basic flaw in the liberal agenda in that sooner or later they run out of other people's money and then we are all broke together. So we need to support all businesses, on a level, fair playing field so that people have jobs. But make no mistake, the liberal DEMS are whole hearted in bed with Large Corps and Large Unions to screw the rest of us out of liberty, justice and economic freedom. Just look at them cracking down on the corner lemon aide stand as an example.
It's hilarious that if the news is bad or not in line with the liberal agenda, the story is attributed to Fox News. Liberals are so filled with bitter bile and hate for anything or anyone that doesn't believe in their agenda. If someone is trying through drive, determination and self-respect to better themselves, they're derided as being "greedy" – especially if they don't give away what they have hard earned to those that won't get off their backsides. Democrats, in their failed Marxist/Leninist/Socialist policies blame everyone except those that deserve the blame: themselves. They STILL blame Bush, Reagan, or anyone else that isn't in power now while still denying the responsibility for the problems we have now. But if something goes right (big IF), they're all over the place taking credit; if there's a problem the liberal spin machine goes full tilt. And if they can't find someone to blame, they'll deny the problem exists.
'Wynn Silence – Everything is working perfectly according to Obama's plans. He said he was going to bring the USA down and he's halfway through his process. He is destroying our freedoms, healthcare, military,the list go's on..
He's doing what he said he was going to do.'
Oh boy, the projection of the tea party bubble inhabitants continues...
And all because of a bad website!
Imagine if he was losing between 500 and 700K jobs per month!
Imagine if he had sent US troops to fight wars based on lies (WMDs)!
Imagine if he had acted like a high-school bully (either you are with us or against us)!
Imagine if he kept 2 wars and an expansion of the Medicare off the books!
Imagine if... he dares not to resign because the poor tea party bubble inhabitants are having their usual temper tantrums and wants it!
We have no leaders with any vision any more. Nobody is presenting a vision for getting our country to move forward. Instead of dumb programs to fix the holes of a sinking ship, we need a vision of how to create an environment where new industries can develop. We are playing not to lose instead of figuring out how to win. That never works in sports and it never works in business or government. Wall street figures out new ways of skimming more money out of each transaction instead of how to to help their customers grow existing businesses or start new ones. We as a people are at fault for not pushing for ways to grow the economy instead of just trying to protect ourselves.
Polls that as so general as "things going well" are highly subjective, as opposed to very specific poll questions. Emotional swings can influence such general poll questions. The collective response can become more negative on a bad weather day, when potential respondents are already perhaps feeling gloomy and cold. You can get a fairly accurate portrait of the electorate on a specific poll question; on a general one such as this, you have to allow a tremendous margin of error. For that reason, I look at the long-term trend of polls that test issues such as this, rather than a single poll.
Its not going well thanks to the Republicans 2005 Bankruptcy Law that made student loans a life sentence. Now that non rich college grads get low paying entry level jobs they send their entire paychecks off to the banks instead of buying goods. The repeal of that law cannot come soon enough.
Well, maybe it's because the media emphasizes NOTHING but negative garbage. To them there is nothing positive going on anywhere. The economy is continuing to improve, even if slowly. And part of it is that people are convinced that the Government can't get anything done which is mainly because the Republicans in Congress come up with NOTHING and block everything else.
Many people slave all week for minimum pay for large corporations that benefit only a small number of investors and then go crazy on the weekend to make up for the stress they feel all week – yes, I'd agree that things are not going well...
AmeriKA, you got what YOU deserve!
To mjkoch,You reckon most of these Black Friday lunatics have bought into this country's massive credit card addiction? They'll still be paying the interest on this crap in August. I've always saved,then bought, via cash.In my 54 yrs. I've only borrowed for a home loan or car loan.Walk into most stores nowadays and observe the mystified expression on the sales guys face when you start counting out cash.Hell,many are so far removed from counting change,the cash register machine has to figure it out for 'em.
It is beyond my comprehension as to how CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NBC and liberal left can continue to spew propaganda such as this. You are supposed to be enlightened, compassionate and concerned about the suffering of others, yet you continue to work in concert spinning the bad news as if you were working for Pravda in the former Soviet Union.
When all is said and done, you are no better than "dooms day preachers" in reverse. Those preachers proclaim the end of life and destruction in times of prosperity and growth, but you proclaim prosperity and growth while we witness the end of life as we know it (and like it) and economic destruction of our nation.
You're both snake oil salesman and suffer from a lack of humanity and common sense.
The definition of insanity is: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. You are hopelessly insane.
Until the wind chages againg, give or take a few months. We are not afraid, but the Republicans are. They fear has reached pathological levels.
Other than more favorable than the probable reality, is anyone actually surprised with these polls?
@ggggg - The Party of Blame continues to earn their name. Nice Job.
Do you know that the #1 degree students filing for bankruptcy was? Law students about a year out of graduating. No income, so the payback of the $100k++ in student loans was nil, yet a year after graduation, many were making top 5% of all income earners in America salaries. It is the abusers that typically lead to law changes.
Obama, thy legacy is misery.
To the republicans, in which I cherished their view for the experienced that had make us great, I think we are at the period in which to realize the world has changed to forgo fighting to maintain the past. In the 21st century, governing required new dimension that is about the world that we live now is not about group view or protecting a group agenda but the notion for all agendas to compromise for what is the best for all, that is, the psychodynamic of world for governing. If you think what happen in Korea does not affect America means living a different world that does not exist.
The economy and interest rates were not as bad when Jimmy Carter lost in a landslide in 1979. This man should have been repudiated for his abysmal record. The only accomplishment he can point to is Obamacare and that's a disaster. Solyndra, Benghazi, IRS scandals, and on and on. This man is a disgrace to the office. I want to know did he attend Columbia as a foreign student? I say he did and the lies just continued from there. Lying to us about "if you like your healathcare you can keep it" are impeachable offenses,