GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll finds Americans' expressed satisfaction with the way things are going in the country is the lowest it has been in more than a decade. Americans continue to cite Iraq as the most important problem facing the country; the economy, terrorism, healthcare, and dissatisfaction with government officials are also mentioned frequently.
Twenty-nine percent of Americans are now satisfied "with the way things are going in the United States at this time," according to the March 13-16 poll. Sixty-eight percent are currently dissatisfied. Satisfaction has declined significantly over the past month after being at 35% in February and at about that level so far this year. The last time satisfaction fell below 30% was in January 1996, when only 24% of Americans were satisfied.
Satisfaction has dropped a total of 15 percentage points from where it was just before the 2004 election. Just prior to George W. Bush's re-election, 44% of Americans were satisfied. The decline has been gradual, with an occasional blip upward. The first noticeable drop was in late March 2005, after the federal government intervened in the Terri Schiavo matter. Satisfaction declined in late August and stayed low in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in early September. It dropped to the low 30s in October and November as views of the economy grew somewhat more negative, before recovering to some degree as 2005 drew to a close.
Satisfaction is thought to be an important predictor of election outcomes. Gallup's current polling on this year's congressional midterm election suggests that Democrats are currently strongly positioned in relation to Republicans. The current level of satisfaction is similar to what Gallup measured in 1992, when the elder George Bush was denied a second presidential term, and in 1994, when Republicans took control of Congress in Bill Clinton's first presidential term.
Satisfaction still has a way to go to reach the lowest in Gallup's polling history -- a 12% rating in July 1979.
As is typically the case, there are wide gaps in satisfaction by partisanship. A majority of Republicans, 60%, say they are satisfied. That compares with only 23% of independents and 9% of Democrats who say the same.
Most Important Problem
Americans continue to regard the situation in Iraq as the most important problem facing the country. Twenty percent mention it in response to this open-ended question, similar to the levels observed since last fall. Ten percent cite the economy in general, 9% terrorism, 8% unemployment, 8% healthcare, and 8% dissatisfaction with government leaders.
Most Important Problem, March 13-16 Gallup Poll
|
%
|
|
Iraq/War
|
20
|
|
Economy in general
|
10
|
|
Terrorism
|
9
|
|
Unemployment
|
8
|
|
Healthcare
|
8
|
|
Politicians/Poor government
|
8
|
|
Education
|
6
|
|
Immigration
|
6
|
|
Ethical/Moral/Family decline
|
6
|
|
Fuel/Oil prices
|
5
|
|
National security
|
5
|
The percentage mentioning Iraq as the nation's most important problem has ranged between the current 20% and 23% since last October, and has been higher than any other issue during that time. The economy in general has ranged from 8% to 15% during that time, and government dissatisfaction ranged from 8% to 12%.
About one in three Americans mentions any economic concern -- be it the economy in general, unemployment, gas prices, or some other issue. That percentage has been stable this year.
The most important problem question does show that partisans view the situation in the country very differently. The top concerns for Democrats are the war in Iraq, dissatisfaction with politicians and government, and unemployment. Terrorism is the top concern for Republicans, just ahead of the war in Iraq. Immigration is a common concern among Republicans, but does not register much with Democrats or independents.
Top Five Mentions of Most Important Problem by Party Affiliation
|
Democrats
|
Independents
|
Republicans
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
|
%
|
|
Iraq/War
|
26
|
Iraq/War
|
22
|
Terrorism
|
18
|
|
Politicians/
Poor govt.
|
14
|
Economy
|
12
|
Iraq/War
|
15
|
|
Unemployment
|
12
|
Healthcare
|
7
|
Economy
|
9
|
|
Healthcare
|
10
|
Education
|
7
|
Immigration
|
8
|
|
Economy
|
8
|
Terrorism
|
7
|
Healthcare
|
8
|
Survey Methods
These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,000 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted March 13-16, 2006. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?
|
Satisfied
|
Dissatisfied
|
No opinion
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
2006 Mar 13-16
|
29
|
68
|
2
|
|
2006 Feb 6-9
|
35
|
62
|
3
|
|
2006 Jan 20-22
|
35
|
62
|
3
|
|
2006 Jan 9-12
|
36
|
61
|
3
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
|
2005 Dec 19-22
|
36
|
62
|
2
|
|
2005 Dec 5-8
|
35
|
62
|
3
|
|
2005 Nov 17-20
|
36
|
62
|
2
|
|
2005 Nov 7-10
|
31
|
66
|
3
|
|
2005 Oct 24-26
|
35
|
63
|
2
|
|
2005 Oct 13-16
|
31
|
68
|
1
|
|
2005 Sep 26-28
|
39
|
59
|
2
|
|
2005 Sep 12-15
|
34
|
65
|
1
|
|
2005 Aug 22-25
|
34
|
62
|
4
|
|
2005 Aug 8-11
|
37
|
60
|
3
|
|
2005 Jul 25-28
|
40
|
58
|
2
|
|
2005 Jul 7-10
|
42
|
57
|
1
|
|
2005 Jun 16-19
|
42
|
56
|
2
|
|
2005 Jun 6-8
|
38
|
60
|
2
|
|
2005 May 23-26
|
41
|
55
|
4
|
|
2005 May 2-5
|
39
|
58
|
3
|
|
2005 Apr 4-7
|
38
|
59
|
3
|
|
2005 Mar 21-23
|
38
|
59
|
3
|
|
2005 Mar 7-10
|
42
|
56
|
2
|
|
2005 Feb 21-24
|
45
|
52
|
3
|
|
2005 Feb 7-10
|
46
|
52
|
2
|
|
2005 Jan 3-5
|
46
|
53
|
1
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
|
2004 Dec 5-8
|
45
|
53
|
2
|
|
2004 Nov 7-10
|
44
|
54
|
2
|
|
2004 Oct 29-31
|
44
|
53
|
3
|
|
2004 Oct 11-14
|
41
|
57
|
2
|
|
2004 Sep 13-15
|
41
|
56
|
3
|
|
2004 Aug 9-11
|
44
|
55
|
1
|
|
2004 Jul 8-11
|
41
|
57
|
2
|
|
2004 Jun 3-6
|
39
|
59
|
2
|
|
2004 May 7-9
|
37
|
62
|
1
|
|
2004 May 2-4
|
36
|
62
|
2
|
|
2004 Apr 5-8
|
41
|
57
|
2
|
|
2004 Mar 8-11
|
39
|
60
|
1
|
|
2004 Feb 9-12
|
45
|
54
|
1
|
|
2004 Jan 12-15
|
46
|
53
|
1
|
|
2004 Jan 2-5
|
55
|
43
|
2
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
|
2003 Dec 11-14
|
50
|
48
|
2
|
|
2003 Nov 3-5
|
44
|
54
|
2
|
|
2003 Oct 6-8
|
41
|
57
|
2
|
|
2003 Sep 8-10
|
40
|
58
|
2
|
|
2003 Aug 4-6
|
46
|
52
|
2
|
|
2003 Jul 7-9
|
50
|
48
|
2
|
|
2003 Jun 12-15
|
47
|
51
|
2
|
|
2003 May 5-7
|
54
|
45
|
1
|
|
2003 Apr 7-9
|
55
|
41
|
4
|
|
2003 Mar 22-23
|
60
|
38
|
2
|
|
2003 Mar 3-5
|
36
|
61
|
3
|
|
2003 Feb 17-19
|
39
|
58
|
3
|
|
2003 Feb 3-6
|
40
|
58
|
2
|
|
2003 Jan 13-16
|
42
|
56
|
2
|
|
2002
|
|
|
|
|
2002 Dec 5-8
|
46
|
51
|
3
|
|
2002 Nov 11-14
|
48
|
48
|
4
|
|
2002 Oct 31-Nov 3
|
48
|
47
|
5
|
|
2002 Oct 3-6
|
47
|
49
|
4
|
|
2002 Sep 5-8
|
47
|
51
|
2
|
|
2002 Aug 5-8
|
47
|
50
|
3
|
|
2002 Jul 26-28
|
48
|
49
|
3
|
|
2002 Jul 22-24
|
49
|
47
|
4
|
|
2002 Jul 9-11
|
49
|
48
|
3
|
|
2002 Jun 3-6
|
52
|
44
|
4
|
|
2002 May 6-9
|
56
|
40
|
4
|
|
2002 Apr 8-11
|
61
|
37
|
2
|
|
2002 Mar 4-7
|
61
|
37
|
2
|
|
2002 Feb 4-6
|
61
|
37
|
2
|
|
2002 Jan 7-9
|
65
|
32
|
3
|
|
2001
|
|
|
|
|
2001 Dec 6-9
|
70
|
28
|
2
|
|
2001 Nov 8-11
|
65
|
33
|
2
|
|
2001 Oct 11-14
|
67
|
29
|
4
|
|
2001 Sep 14-15
|
61
|
36
|
3
|
|
2001 Sep 7-10
|
43
|
55
|
2
|
|
2001 Aug 16-19
|
48
|
49
|
3
|
|
2001 Jul 19-22
|
51
|
46
|
3
|
|
2001 Jun 11-17
|
51
|
46
|
3
|
|
2001 May 10-14
|
46
|
50
|
4
|
|
2001 Apr 6-8
|
50
|
47
|
3
|
|
2001 Mar 5-7
|
53
|
44
|
3
|
|
2001 Feb 1-4
|
51
|
45
|
4
|
|
2001 Jan 10-14
|
56
|
41
|
3
|
|
2000
|
|
|
|
|
2000 Dec 2-4
|
51
|
46
|
3
|
|
2000 Nov 13-15
|
58
|
41
|
1
|
|
2000 Oct 6-9
|
62
|
36
|
2
|
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5
|
59
|
38
|
3
|
|
2000 Aug 18-19
|
63
|
33
|
4
|
|
2000 Jul 14-16
|
61
|
35
|
4
|
|
2000 Jun 22-25
|
56
|
39
|
5
|
|
2000 May 18-21
|
55
|
42
|
3
|
|
2000 Apr 3-9
|
59
|
37
|
4
|
|
2000 Feb 25-27
|
65
|
32
|
3
|
|
2000 Jan 7-10
|
69
|
28
|
3
|
|
1999
|
|
|
|
|
1999 Sep 23-26
|
52
|
45
|
3
|
|
1999 Aug 24-26
|
62
|
35
|
3
|
|
1999 Jun 11-13
|
55
|
42
|
3
|
|
1999 May 23-24
|
51
|
46
|
3
|
|
1999 Apr 26-27
|
51
|
45
|
4
|
|
1999 Apr 13-14
|
58
|
39
|
3
|
|
1999 Feb 12-13
|
71
|
26
|
3
|
|
1999 Jan 15-17
|
70
|
28
|
2
|
|
1998
|
|
|
|
|
1998 Dec 28-29
|
50
|
48
|
2
|
|
1998 Oct 29-Nov 1
|
60
|
34
|
6
|
|
1998 Aug 21-23
|
63
|
34
|
3
|
|
1998 Aug 10-12
|
60
|
36
|
4
|
|
1998 May 8-10
|
59
|
36
|
5
|
|
1998 Apr 17-19
|
58
|
38
|
4
|
|
1998 Feb 20-22
|
64
|
32
|
4
|
|
1998 Feb 13-15
|
59
|
37
|
4
|
|
1998 Jan 30-Feb 1
|
63
|
35
|
2
|
|
1997
|
|
|
|
|
1997 Dec 18-21
|
50
|
46
|
4
|
|
1997 Aug 22-25
|
50
|
48
|
2
|
|
1997 May 6-7
|
46
|
51
|
3
|
|
1997 Jan 10-13
|
50
|
47
|
3
|
|
1996
|
|
|
|
|
1996 Dec 9-11
|
43
|
55
|
2
|
|
1996 Nov 21-24
|
47
|
47
|
6
|
|
1996 Oct 26-29
|
39
|
56
|
5
|
|
1996 Aug 30-Sep 1
|
45
|
50
|
5
|
|
1996 Aug 16-18
|
38
|
57
|
5
|
|
1996 May 9-12
|
37
|
60
|
3
|
|
1996 Mar 15-17
|
36
|
61
|
3
|
|
1996 Mar 8-10
|
41
|
56
|
3
|
|
1996 Jan 5-7
|
24
|
72
|
4
|
|
1995
|
|
|
|
|
1995 Aug 11-14
|
33
|
64
|
3
|
|
1995 Jul 7-9
|
32
|
65
|
3
|
|
1995 Mar 27-29
|
30
|
66
|
4
|
|
1994
|
|
|
|
|
1994 Nov 28-29
|
29
|
67
|
4
|
|
1994 Nov 2-6
|
30
|
66
|
4
|
|
1994 Oct 22-25
|
31
|
66
|
3
|
|
1994 Jul 15-17
|
33
|
65
|
2
|
|
1994 May 20-22
|
33
|
64
|
3
|
|
1994 Apr 22-24
|
32
|
65
|
3
|
|
1994 Mar 25-27
|
35
|
62
|
3
|
|
1994 Feb 26-28
|
36
|
61
|
3
|
|
1994 Jan 15-17
|
35
|
62
|
3
|
|
1993
|
|
|
|
|
1993 Dec 4-6
|
34
|
63
|
3
|
|
1993 Nov 2-4
|
27
|
70
|
3
|
|
1993 May 21-23
|
24
|
73
|
3
|
|
1993 Feb 12-14
|
25
|
71
|
4
|
|
1993 Jan 8-11
|
29
|
68
|
3
|
|
1992
|
|
|
|
|
1992 Nov 11-12
|
26
|
68
|
6
|
|
1992 Aug 28-Sep 2 ‡
|
22
|
73
|
5
|
|
1992 Jul 31-Aug 2
|
17
|
80
|
3
|
|
1992 Jun 12-14
|
14
|
84
|
2
|
|
1992 May 7-10
|
20
|
77
|
3
|
|
1992 Apr 20-22 ^
|
19
|
80
|
1
|
|
1992 Mar 20-22
|
19
|
80
|
1
|
|
1992 Feb 28-Mar 1
|
21
|
78
|
1
|
|
1992 Jan 31-Feb 2 ^
|
24
|
75
|
1
|
|
1992 Jan 3-6 ^
|
24
|
74
|
2
|
|
1991
|
|
|
|
|
1991 Dec 5-8
|
37
|
60
|
3
|
|
1991 Oct 31-Nov 2
|
35
|
62
|
3
|
|
1991 Oct 10-13
|
39
|
57
|
4
|
|
1991 Aug 23-25
|
49
|
45
|
6
|
|
1991 Jul 11-14
|
43
|
50
|
7
|
|
1991 May 23-26
|
49
|
49
|
2
|
|
1991 Mar 21-24
|
52
|
43
|
5
|
|
1991 Feb 28-Mar 3
|
66
|
31
|
3
|
|
1991 Feb 14-17
|
54
|
40
|
6
|
|
1991 Jan 17-21
|
62
|
33
|
5
|
|
1991 Jan 3-6
|
32
|
61
|
7
|
|
1990
|
|
|
|
|
1990 Dec 13-16
|
33
|
64
|
3
|
|
1990 Nov 1-4
|
32
|
64
|
4
|
|
1990 Oct 25-28
|
31
|
66
|
3
|
|
1990 Oct 11-14
|
29
|
67
|
4
|
|
1990 Sep 27-30
|
37
|
58
|
5
|
|
1990 Aug 30-Sep 2
|
51
|
44
|
5
|
|
1990 Aug 9-12
|
43
|
51
|
6
|
|
1990 Jul 19-22
|
45
|
51
|
4
|
|
1990 Feb 8-11
|
55
|
39
|
6
|
|
1989
|
|
|
|
|
1989 May 4-7
|
44
|
50
|
6
|
|
1989 Feb
|
45
|
50
|
5
|
|
1988
|
|
|
|
|
1988 Sep 25-Oct 1
|
56
|
40
|
4
|
|
1988 May 13-15
|
41
|
54
|
5
|
|
1987
|
|
|
|
|
1987 Aug 24-Sep 2
|
45
|
49
|
6
|
|
1986
|
|
|
|
|
1986 Dec 4-5 †
|
47
|
49
|
4
|
|
1986 Sep 3-17
|
58
|
38
|
4
|
|
1986 Jun 9-16
|
69
|
26
|
5
|
|
1986 Mar 7-10
|
66
|
30
|
4
|
|
1985
|
|
|
|
|
1985 Nov 11-18
|
51
|
46
|
3
|
|
1984
|
|
|
|
|
1984 Dec
|
52
|
40
|
8
|
|
1984 Sep 28-Oct 1
|
48
|
45
|
7
|
|
1984 Feb 10-13
|
50
|
46
|
4
|
|
1983
|
|
|
|
|
1983 Aug 5-8
|
35
|
59
|
6
|
|
1982
|
|
|
|
|
1982 Nov 5-8
|
24
|
72
|
4
|
|
1982 Sep 17-20
|
24
|
72
|
4
|
|
1982 Apr 2-5
|
25
|
71
|
4
|
|
1981
|
|
|
|
|
1981 Dec 11-14
|
27
|
67
|
6
|
|
1981 Jun 5-8
|
33
|
61
|
6
|
|
1981 Jan 9-12
|
17
|
78
|
5
|
|
1979
|
|
|
|
|
1979 Nov 2-5
|
19
|
77
|
4
|
|
1979 Jul 13-16
|
12
|
84
|
4
|
|
1979 Feb 2-5
|
26
|
69
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
^ registered voters
† Gallup/Newsweek
‡ Gallup/CNN/Knight-Ridder
|
What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? [Open-ended]
|
Recent Trend:
|
Mar
13-16,
2006
|
Feb
6-9,
2006
|
Jan
9-12,
2006
|
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET)
|
31
|
29
|
29
|
|
1
|
Economy in general
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
|
2
|
Unemployment/jobs
|
8
|
7
|
7
|
|
3
|
Fuel/Oil Prices
|
5
|
6
|
5
|
|
4
|
Federal budget deficit/federal debt
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
|
5
|
Taxes
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
6
|
Lack of money
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
|
7
|
High cost of living/Inflation
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
8
|
Gap between rich and poor
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
9
|
Wage issues
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
10
|
Foreign trade/Trade deficit
|
1
|
1
|
*
|
|
11
|
Corporate corruption
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
12
|
Recession
|
*
|
--
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NON-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET)
|
78
|
78
|
77
|
|
1
|
Situation in Iraq/War
|
20
|
22
|
23
|
|
2
|
Terrorism
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
|
3
|
Dissatisfaction with government/Congress/politicians/candidates; Poor leadership; corruption
|
8
|
10
|
9
|
|
4
|
Poor healthcare/hospitals; high cost of healthcare
|
8
|
9
|
6
|
|
5
|
Education/Poor education/Access to education
|
6
|
4
|
5
|
|
6
|
Immigration/Illegal aliens
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
|
7
|
Ethics/Moral/Religious/Family decline; Dishonesty; Lack of integrity
|
6
|
6
|
7
|
|
8
|
National security
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
|
9
|
Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
|
10
|
Social Security
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
|
11
|
Judicial system/Courts/Laws
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
12
|
Foreign aid/Focus overseas
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
|
13
|
Lack of energy sources; the energy crisis
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
|
14
|
International issues/Problems
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
15
|
Natural disaster relief effort and funding
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
16
|
Crime/Violence
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
17
|
Environment/Pollution
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
18
|
Unifying the country
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
19
|
Lack of respect for each other
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
|
20
|
Drugs
|
1
|
1
|
*
|
|
21
|
Welfare
|
1
|
*
|
*
|
|
22
|
Medicare
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
|
23
|
Children's behavior/way they are raised
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
24
|
Race relations/Racism
|
1
|
*
|
1
|
|
25
|
The media
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
26
|
Child abuse
|
*
|
--
|
--
|
|
27
|
Care for the elderly
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
|
28
|
Abortion
|
*
|
1
|
1
|
|
29
|
Abuse of power
|
*
|
1
|
*
|
|
30
|
Lack of military defense
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
|
31
|
Homosexuality/Gay issues
|
*
|
*
|
--
|
|
32
|
Overpopulation
|
*
|
*
|
--
|
|
33
|
Guns/Gun control
|
*
|
--
|
--
|
|
34
|
Election year/Presidential choices/Election reform
|
*
|
*
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other non-economic
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No opinion
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
|
Total
|
137%
|
130%
|
122%
|
