How are we feeling?
Not great, but better than we've been in a while. In November, 52 percent of Americans said the country was doing "very well" or "fairly well," the highest number since 2007, and 32 percent think the economy has finally started to recover from the 2008 collapse, up from 24 percent last year (CNN/ORC). Yet few people feel any richer. Only 28 percent of voters said their finances had improved over the past two years; almost as many, 25 percent, said they were worse (Edison Research). There's little hope that things will improve anytime soon. 60 percent believe the nation is in a "state of decline," and 54 percent said the growing gap between the wealthiest Americans and everyone else is wrecking the American dream — that if you work hard, you'll get ahead (NBC/The Wall Street Journal). 22 percent think their state should just give up and secede from the union (Reuters).
What makes us so angry?
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The lack of leadership from Washington. 63 percent disapprove of President Obama's handling of the economy, and 63 percent don't like the way he has dealt with foreign policy (Gallup). We're not impressed with the House or Senate, either: 65 percent say the outgoing Congress is the worst they've seen in their lifetime (CNN/ORC), and 58 percent think a third political party is needed because Republicans and Democrats "do such a poor job" (Gallup). There is one politician who's still widely respected: when asked which president of the past 25 years they most admired, 42 percent named Bill Clinton. President Obama came in a distant second with 18 percent (NBC/The Wall Street Journal). 28 percent would like to have Bubba over for a barbecue, more than any other president living or dead, while 22 percent would extend an invite to Ronald Reagan (Harris Poll).
What are we afraid of?
Plenty. 71 percent suspect there could soon be a major terrorist attack in the U.S., 43 percent fear that they or someone in their family will contract Ebola (ABC News/The Washington Post), and 57 percent worry about being killed in a mass shooting. 16 percent are phobic of clowns (Chapman University). The internet gives us a lot to panic about. 69 percent worry cybercriminals will steal their credit card information, and 62 percent fear that hackers will break into their phone or computer and steal sensitive private information (Gallup). Such fears won't stop us from using technology in risky ways: 20 percent have taken "an intimate photo" of themselves or someone else on a cellphone, including 39 percent of under-30s and 3 percent of over-65s (YouGov).
How has society changed?
We're more open-minded. 55 percent of Americans want their state to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana (YouGov/HuffingtonPost.com), 55 percent support gay marriage (Gallup), and 62 percent wouldn't be upset if their child came out as gay (McClatchy/Marist Poll). We're less tolerant when it comes to open displays of affection. While 95 percent of heterosexuals are OK with a straight couple's kissing each other on the cheek in public, just 55 percent would approve of a male gay couple's doing the same. Still, 72 percent are fine with lesbian couples' kissing publicly (American Sociological Review).
How do we relax?
By reaching for the cookie jar. 91 percent of Americans munch at least one snack a day, and 7 percent of us squeeze in five snacks or more. Our waistlines reflect that taste for treats: 51 percent of us want to lose weight, but only 26 percent are seriously trying to do so (Gallup). But there might be little point in shedding those extra pounds. 49 percent of Americans think the severity of recent natural disasters, such as California's record-breaking drought, is a sign that we're entering the biblical "end times" (Public Religion Research Institute).
