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Subscribe to RSSA new poll conducted for Xavier University's Center for the Study of the American Dream finds that only 23% of all American adults believe the country is headed in the right direction.
What's more, 83% have less trust in politics than they did 10 or 15 years ago; 79% have less trust in big business and corporations; 78% have less trust in government; and 72% have less trust in the media.
Despite that negative outlook, the survey also shows that 63% are confident in the American Dream. (What's the American Dream? Per the poll, the top definitions are a good life for someone's family, financial security, freedom, and opportunity.)
Yet the survey finds some striking demographic differences. Latinos and immigrations have the most positive perceptions of the American Dream, while whites and women who live in households with incomes less than $70,000 are among those who have the most negative opinions.
And get this: Confidence among African Americans to reach the American Dream declined from 40% who felt "extremely confident" in 2010 to 27% who feel the same way today.
The poll -- conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates -- was taken from March 5-15 of 1,003 adults, and it has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1%.
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Yup. Those tax breaks for the wealthy are having the desired effect. The peasants are starting to understand that they are screwed.
Damn that Obama and his tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
Why, why would he do such harm to the middle and working class?
I consider that a 'good' thing bilweeler!
Come 2012 you can damn well believe that voters will not be as complacent as they were in 2010!
Fired Up and Ready to GO! ;o)
America has gotten fatter and lazier than ever in the last 30-40 years. Now, a majority of American's expect govt to take care of them cradle to grave, a mindset that has been fostered and encouraged by liberal Democrats in hopes of getting votes. Former world powers like Spain, France and England all saw their peaks and then declined into socialist mediocrity. America is just past it's peak (50's and 60's) and is likely to end up just like them as the world economic leadership passes to countries with growing economies like China and India and Brazil.
Sad, but true.
Spanky, you don't pay attention. republicans held the American people hostage with their demand for tax cuts for the wealthy! If this is your attempt at humor, it is sick. If you are trying to misinform, I am calling you on it, and if you yourself are misinformed, then read a little.
Do not put this on Obama. The only reason why he even proposed that bill is because you guys held the rest of Americans hostage.
Joe in Albany,
You said, "America is just past it's peak (50's and 60's)." In the 50's the top tax rate was 91 -92%. Today it is 35%. In the 50's union membership was near 40%. Today it is near 5%.
Yet the survey finds some striking demographic differences. Latinos and immigrations have the most positive perceptions of the American Dream...
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those immigrations are to big for their britches if you ask me...
Don't you mean "those immigrants"?
And how are they "too big for their britches"??
Those who want to believe in the American dream have not heard that the GOP/TP is destroying the middle class.
The irony, of course, being that it's the republicans who actually espouse the fundamentals of the American dream- work hard, earn your way, improve your life through your own efforts. Democrats do better with people who believe that they not only need government support for their very survival but that they are entitled to what others earn. Complacency is what's destroying the middle class.
Suzy -
I've been working hard, earning my way, and trying to improve my life for almost 42 years now. I paid much of my own way through college, I own a house that's also a rental property and haven't been late on a mortgage payment in over 20 years. I was on unemployment twice - once for three weeks, the next time for three months - when the company I worked for went through a couple of disastrous mergers and subsequent breakups. Now at age 59 when most of my friends are already beginning to enjoy their retirements, I'm still at least 6 or 7 years away from retirement myself and am already dipping into my savings to support what Medicare and Social Security don't cover to keep my 79-year-old mother in a wheelchair in a nursing home. I'm not even expecting help from what my own brothers earn, let alone from you or anyone else.
So what exactly should I be doing to get over this "complacency" issue I have?
Who said you've been complacent? At least from your description, you've done for yourself and not become a member of the entitlement class that's waiting for Uncle Sam to spread the wealth to you.
"Who said you've been complacent?"
I think that was you:
"Democrats do better with people who believe that they not only need government support for their very survival but that they are entitled to what others earn".
Or did you mean all Democrats except me? Guess what - I'm not all that exceptional.
Suzie, republicans have very busy with class warfare since Reagan. Crap goes downhill, not money. republicans hold Reagan as their lord and savior, whose plan for trickle down economics has been killing the middle class for the past thirty years. Reagan, who prescribed a budget busting deficit and made sure the wealthy got more money and the middle class less. Reagan, the great miscommunicator and the killer of the American Dream.
JoAnne in PA
Thank you for your comments. There are millions of Americans just like you who have spent their entire lives trying to work hard and be responsible citizens taking care of themselves....and then ended up in tent city, because the government killed the American Dream. Now, young people can't even afford to ever have their own homes. Even that small dream of having your own home is dead. You can bust your butt all your life, and still end up with nothing in this country, because it is no longer for the people and by the people. It is for the politicians and the rich and by the politicians and the rich. Thank you for your reality check for a few of the others in this discussion. Best to you always.
It's a two-way street. I bust my balls every day of the week, and I feel like a hamster in a wheel. No savings, no retirement, and every time I think I'm starting to get ahead a little bit, more people telling me I can afford to pay a little more with higher taxes. I actually think I'm gonna die from overwork before I have a prayer of being able to retire. The middle class is the new slave class. Too much of a work ethic to lay back and rely on the "system" to take care of us, too poor to qualify for all the perks and privileges of the upper class.
The American dream does not include the "Rethuglicians " they only have dreams for the wealthy being taken care of !The rest of us are disposable in their minds !
Oh, no Dreaming, you got you the Democrats looking out for you all, right.
You feeling warm and fuzzy with all the protection you've been getting lately?
By the way Dreaming, just which party has been writing the tax laws lately? Was Rangel serving you interest as the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee? From what I read he sure was able to amass quite the fortune for himself.
Yep, take heart you are in the loving. protective embrace of the Democratic Party. Say arnen't Schumer, Pelosi, Reed, Biden, and of Course Obama millionaires.
Just like you, right?
Say there Spanky I see you are still spouting off about the GOP's version of the American Dream. Those people you mentioned in your post are the millionaires that know that helping the little guy and looking out for our children are in our best interest unlike the GOP who look out for the corporations and wealthy. Yeah you know those rich people they need to be protected from the poor and the working class. Yeah right!
THose people - your people sure have let you down, huh devie?
Or is it just they have been powerless to stop those EEEVVVIIILLL republicans?
Pick, which is it bro?
And again just who has been writing the tax code lately? Say devie you even ever read the tax code?
google...WHO,S REALLY BEHIND REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION...pull back the curtain and you'll find A.L.E.C.
Money doesn't know political boundaries. Democrats and Republicans alike are equally corruptible.
I absolutely agree with the majority on this one. It's depressing to me that even as we finally got rid of Bush, now I wake up every morning to a new controversy around our combative Tea Party governor. And Sarah Palin is still in my face.
I voted for Barack Obama, I like Barack Obama, but I can't enjoy having a decent President because the attacks on him personally never cease.
Don't get me started on the media.
Yeah AM, I know how you feel. I’m sure your finding dishing it out for 8 years was a whole lot more fun than being on the receiving end. That whole turnabout thing is tough to take. I seem to recall something about treating others as.....oh never mind.
Paul (MI) - Mirror of Truth
My disgust for George W. Bush grew from every lie that man told us, every mangled action he took, the trillions of dollars he wasted, the g** d*** recession he left us, and the busted and broken system he left behind.
Your disgust for President Obama is because he's a Democrat.
Oh absolutely Amy, yours is the only valid partisanship.
But if you must know…..”my disgust for Barack Hussein Obama grew from every lie that man has told us, every mangled action he took, the trillions of dollars he wasted and the crash of the American economy he is leading us to and the systems he has busted and broken and left behind. In case your missing the point…..
I’m disgusted by his failed leadership (by his own definition),the bribes, corruption and the fact that he considers half of American’s his enemy, has sided and encouraged other countries in suing American states and governments, loaned billions to a foreign nations to develop oil, while tying the hands of America, and insuring his friend Soros makes millions on the deal. I’m further disgusted by the wars he has doubled down on and started. The innocent people he has killed and him supporting the slaughter of people at the hands of the rebels. While there is more, I will end with my disgust for him for being in bed with GE, the corrupt deals he’s given them, the money GE’s given in return, the billions in profits GE made without paying taxes and them owning NBC which owns MSNBC, which in turn owns your heart, mind, body and soul.
do you work for fox news, or do you think for yourself?
Wheww! Kr………..for a second there I thought you were going to say something profound or dispute something I said.
No, actually the first part I got from Amy, the rest was all mine.
Paul (MI) Purveyor of Crap! The Master of Delusion! The Disciple of FOX!
The big surprise for me is that 28% have trust in the media. I guess they must be birthers.
American Dream......really, with Republican and their money bag cronies wanting to extinguish the middle class.
At the time of Americas founding the large majority of its citizens were self employed, Now it is reversed big time.
The libs hand out platitudes, welfare and dreams of how good government control over individuals will be.
Corporations hand out pay based on performance or in who your daddy is.
Small bussinesses and conservatives still believe that they can make a difference and rise to the top.
Unions just take our money for the bosses and tell us on how we are all the same, will be paid the same and the last hired will be first fired regardless of ability.
american - 2051576
It's known that Republicans/Teabaggers have talking points, bla bla bla which means, more money for the rich. Party of holier than thou.
pius - your point? or are you agreeing on all points? Isn't a talking point the place to start discussions?
What we need are huge tax breaks, not for the wealthy, but for small businesses. Anyone who starts a new business should be able to write off all expenses the first year. Give out loans, make it easier to innovate and actually try to start something new in this country if you have the balls to try to make it happen instead of put up more red tape, regulations, and taxes.
I'm not saying complete deregulation, that's crazy. No, industries (oil, financial, automotive, etc..) have to rules to comply with. But it should be easier to start a new business.
american-2051276. I have a news flash for you. Not all small business people are conservative.
We had eight years of conservative government, that is why we are in the worst recession since the great depression.
You really are clueless about unions.
In what way was the last eight years conservative? And remember, and this is not to get Bush off the hook, four of those years did not have a Republican house or Senate.They spent like drunken sailors and gave us the unfunded entitlement Medicare-D and two unfunded wars. How is that fiscally conservative?
And the last two years have been no different. They just tell us (40%) how much they're borrowing.
patrick - reread my post never said they were, just that they believed that they could make a difference
Seems that we have gone thru a global recession not just an american one or did you forget that?
I have known unions since I was 18, was once a member of the sheetmetal workers union national affliation long forgotten in buffalo NY. My father was a union member and stewart for Dupont in buffalo Ny. My brother in law was also union. I have gone thru union campaigns for gaining recognition, and I have worked side by side with local trade unions here in Iowa
Just because you choose to stick your head up your azz, doesn't mean we all have to.
Alan, it sounds like you're giving a pass to GB. Even for those 4 years we didn't have a Rebublican House or Senate, the prez still had to sign the budget. And that doesn't excuse the other 4 years we were "spending like drunken sailors".
I actually think we're trying to be more fiscally conservative now, but spending is still inflated because of the wars and trying to recover from the recession.
the problem is money in politics. war mongering republicans. legions of lobbyist. fox news lies. oil barrons. wall street barons. and the inability for most americans to think.
vote gop/tp for the american nightmare
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On behalf of America's farmers: This year we planted alfalfa; next year we will plant buckwheat !
Let's not give up on ourselves; in my opinion this country is still a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family. Let's be a little more grateful for what we've got, because if all you do is focus on what's wrong then you're in for a long, tough ride. This country was built by hard-working people, and we've got some of the best brains working for us in this country. Every morning, despite all the problems, millions of Americans go to their jobs - scientists, construction workers, policemen, taxi drivers, cooks, teachers, farmers, journalists. Every day kids go off to school, hopefully to learn something valuable. Every night, college kids prepare for their next mid-term exam, or work on their thesis for presentation. Every day, environmentalists try to figure out ways to sustain our ecosystem. We are all the backbone of this nation - we built it, we keep it alive and the American dream will never fade out because of US.
It's not such a bad place to be!!
I agree. My spouse and I worked hard to put each other through college and then our children through college.
Never got a handout, except for student loans, which we paid back.
We never lived above our means, which too many people do. Now we are comfortable because we worked for it.
Too many lazy people expect something for nothing. Even nowdays it can be done. Who is in office has nothing to do with it.
The only american dream is freedom justice and liberty for all we don't need big government for these rights,or the haves supporting the have nots .Cut the government on all levels that will definitely create jobs in the private sector ,the backbone of America,without us it doesn't work.
Sounds like someone is taking away the American Dream from Americans. Then again, if I was allowed to illegally live in country that pays for your medical care, food, housing, and let's your kids be citizens after living in a 3rd would nation I'd probably think it was the best country in the world too.
Americans need to stop using this arrogant and insular phrase "The American Dream". People all over the world aspire to the same things, and it is statistically irrefutable that in many other countries they are more likely to get them. Clinging to the idea that merely being American somehow makes America special undermines all attempts to analyse and address the country's many problems in serious and constructive manner.
<p>I am relieved..aha.. I was afraid Joseph Farah would be hasty in buying what Obama put out. You never know what he's capable of. He's been spending millions to surmount this birther issue. People have asked why didn't he just show the birth certificate - long form or short form, and move on. The fact that he balked at and delayed what could have been a simple matter (just show the damned birth certificate), speaks volume. He was worried it would destroy his reputation. As long as it continued to remain ambiguous, speculated at best, he was safe, until.. Until what? Until..er.. he could organize things!</p><p> That was his fort. He's damned good at this sort of things. (Remember how he managed to organize things to get rid of Hillary Clinton, a supposed shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination?) He delayed because he himself was less than 100% sure he's born where he said he was. He was not ready. There were doubts. As Joseph Farah sent detectives to dig up things, so did Obama's legion of diehard supporters. The fact that they waited until now to do what could have been a simple thing, didn't lend credential to Obama's truthfulness or the birth certificate itself. Far from it. And, what's more, it was released by Obama himself, in digital form (which from all intents and purposes would be just a certified true copy from a faked original. First hired the best brains in the business to creat master copy and...?), when he's ready. Ready for what? Ready for when everything was in order -- all former and present officials from the state of Hawaii concerned, midwives or hospital attendants were all accounted for. There was to be no room for errors. There must be no surprises. The last thing Obama wanted was some misguided former or current officials to come out at the eleventh hour to spoil everything. All it takes is for a former heath worker or attendant working the shift at the mentioned hospital on the day that Barrack Hussein Obama II was supposedly born, to come out and say -- as far as he was concerned no African boy was born on that day!</p><p> But I digress. The skeptics were right. No matter what the outcome of the examination or certification of the released so-called longform birth certificate, it will not get Obama off the hooks. </p> <p> Despite persistent attempts to make him come clean with his college or education records, to prove he didn't parade around with fake college or university degrees to his name, he steadfastly refused until now. Nowadays all it takes is a few clicks on the mouse and willingness to part with some money, you could get yourself any degree, even a Ph.D.</p><p>Education records or levels are as important as, if not more than, birth records. A man of dubious educational background has no business getting involved in politics, let alone aspires to be president of the world's only super power. He's supposed to be better than the people he wants to serve; he has to lead by example. If Obama's such a person, he's as disqualified to be president of the United States as he was not a natural-born American. </p>
One word: NUTS
<p>I am relieved..aha.. I was afraid Joseph Farah would be hasty in buying what Obama put out. You never know what he's capable of. He's been spending millions to surmount this birther issue. People have asked why didn't he just show the birth certificate - long form or short form, and move on. The fact that he balked at and delayed what could have been a simple matter (just show the damned birth certificate), speaks volume. He was worried it would destroy his reputation. As long as it continued to remain ambiguous, speculated at best, he was safe, until.. Until what? Until..er.. he could organize things!</p><p> That was his fort. He's damned good at this sort of things. (Remember how he managed to organize things to get rid of Hillary Clinton, a supposed shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination?) He delayed because he himself was less than 100% sure he's born where he said he was. He was not ready. There were doubts. As Joseph Farah sent detectives to dig up things, so did Obama's legion of diehard supporters. The fact that they waited until now to do what could have been a simple thing, didn't lend credential to Obama's truthfulness or the birth certificate itself. Far from it. And, what's more, it was released by Obama himself, in digital form (which from all intents and purposes would be just a certified true copy from a faked original. First hired the best brains in the business to creat master copy and...?), when he's ready. Ready for what? Ready for when everything was in order -- all former and present officials from the state of Hawaii concerned, midwives or hospital attendants were all accounted for. There was to be no room for errors. There must be no surprises. The last thing Obama wanted was some misguided former or current officials to come out at the eleventh hour to spoil everything. All it takes is for a former heath worker or attendant working the shift at the mentioned hospital on the day that Barrack Hussein Obama II was supposedly born, to come out and say -- as far as he was concerned no African boy was born on that day!</p><p> But I digress. The skeptics were right. No matter what the outcome of the examination or certification of the released so-called longform birth certificate, it will not get Obama off the hooks. </p> <p> Despite persistent attempts to make him come clean with his college or education records, to prove he didn't parade around with fake college or university degrees to his name, he steadfastly refused until now. Nowadays all it takes is a few clicks on the mouse and willingness to part with some money, you could get yourself any degree, even a Ph.D.</p><p>Education records or levels are as important as, if not more than, birth records. A man of dubious educational background has no business getting involved in politics, let alone aspires to be president of the world's only super power. He's supposed to be better than the people he wants to serve; he has to lead by example. If Obama's such a person, he's as disqualified to be president of the United States as he was not a natural-born American. </p>
I reiterate: NUTS.
I am relieved..aha.. I was afraid Joseph Farah would be hasty in buying what Obama put out. You never know what he's capable of. He's been spending millions to surmount this birther issue. People have asked why didn't he just show the birth certificate - long form or short form, and move on. The fact that he balked at and delayed what could have been a simple matter (just show the damned birth certificate), speaks volume. He was worried it would destroy his reputation. As long as it continued to remain ambiguous, speculated at best, he was safe, until.. Until what? Until..er.. he could organize things!
That was his fort. He's damned good at this sort of things. (Remember how he managed to organize things to get rid of Hillary Clinton, a supposed shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination?) He delayed because he himself was less than 100% sure he's born where he said he was. He was not ready. There were doubts. As Joseph Farah sent detectives to dig up things, so did Obama's legion of diehard supporters. The fact that they waited until now to do what could have been a simple thing, didn't lend credential to Obama's truthfulness or the birth certificate itself. Far from it. And, what's more, it was released by Obama himself, in digital form (which from all intents and purposes would be just a certified true copy from a faked original. First hired the best brains in the business to creat master copy and...?), when he's ready. Ready for what? Ready for when everything was in order -- all former and present officials from the state of Hawaii concerned, midwives or hospital attendants were all accounted for. There was to be no room for errors. There must be no surprises. The last thing Obama wanted was some misguided former or current officials to come out at the eleventh hour to spoil everything. All it takes is for a former heath worker or attendant working the shift at the mentioned hospital on the day that Barrack Hussein Obama II was supposedly born, to come out and say -- as far as he was concerned no African boy was born on that day!
But I digress. The skeptics were right. No matter what the outcome of the examination or certification of the released so-called longform birth certificate, it will not get Obama off the hooks.
Despite persistent attempts to make him come clean with his college or education records, to prove he didn't parade around with fake college or university degrees to his name, he steadfastly refused until now. Nowadays all it takes is a few clicks on the mouse and willingness to part with some money, you could get yourself any degree, even a Ph.D.
Education records or levels are as important as, if not more than, birth records. A man of dubious educational background has no business getting involved in politics, let alone aspires to be president of the world's only super power. He's supposed to be better than the people he wants to serve; he has to lead by example. If Obama's such a person, he's as disqualified to be president of the United States as he was not a natural-born American.
What part of NUTS don't you understand?
Every price revolves around the price of fuel. Everything that has got to be moved by truck, train, plane or automobile and with gas approaching $5 bucks a gallon, Big oil is cleaning up while Working Stiffs are turning into third world Labor. Everything has gone up in price except wages and that spells trouble with a Capital T...
I wish people would quit blaming the economy, the president, the Dems, the Republicans, immigrants, global warming, etc. for all of their problems.
If you quit school, or are unable to live within your means, or had kids you couldn't support, that's YOUR problem. (I am not referring to situations beyond our control, such as illness or physical or mental disability).
Jeez...doesn't anybody know what "personal responsibility" means?