The end of a year – and especially the end of a decade – warrants both retrospective reflection and predictions of what is to come. Currently there seems to be much consensus, especially around the 2000s as a decade of struggle and decline for the US. There is a silver lining, however, in the cautious optimism around the issue of race relations. As the decade comes to a close, it is still clear that the US is entering the 2010s with much work to do, particularly with the economy and unemployment. Below is recent public opinion on the past decade, the current climate, and what may be in the next ten years.
UNEMPLOYED ADULTS AND PRESIDENTIAL JOB APPROVAL NUMBERS
The New York Times and CBS News recently conducted a national survey of unemployed adults. The unemployed differ from the general population on many issues. Unemployed adults are generally more positive about how Barack Obama is performing as President with 61% approving, compared to 50% of the general public. In addition, they are also more positive about Obama’s performance on specific issues, such as the economy, health care and job creation:
# The economy – 57% of the unemployed approve of Barack Obama’s handling of the economy, compared to 47% of the general public
# Health care – 55% of unemployed adults approve of Barack Obama’s handling of health care, versus 42% of the general public
# Job creation – 47% of the unemployed approve of Barack Obama’s handling of job creation, compared to 38% of the general public
Regarding the issue with the greatest sense of urgency:
# A majority of the unemployed (56%) report that either the economy (27%) or jobs (29%) is the most pressing issue facing the country
# These are major concerns for the general public as well (total 47%; economy 23%, jobs 24%)
# The general public was more likely to bring up health care – 12% of the general public versus 6% of unemployed adults
UNEMPLOYED ADULTS, THE ECONOMY, AND PERSONAL FINANCES
The unemployed are about the same as the general public on where the economy is going, with most reporting that it is staying the same (50%), 27% saying it is getting better and 22% saying it is getting worse.
# Fewer of the unemployed believe the recession is over – 6% compared to 11% of the general public
# A majority of unemployed adults (52%) believe the recession will go on for two years (27%) or longer (25%)
# The unemployed are the same as the general public on the impact of the stimulus, with 33% saying it has made the economy better, 13% expressing that it has made the economy worse, and 50% saying it has had no impact
Regarding personal financial situations, a majority of unemployed adults report that the financial situation in their homes is fairly or very bad (71%) and only 11% report that their financial situation is getting any better. In addition:
# 54% have reported cutting back on both luxury and necessity day-to-day spending items
# 49% report that “the recession has been a hardship and caused major life changes”
# 46% said that the job loss was a “major crisis” in their lives
LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD, AND POSITIVE PROGRESS IN RACE RELATIONS
A recent Pew survey also evinces a rather gloomy outlook, especially on opinions of the 2000s as the decade comes to a close. Half of respondents report that their impression of the 2000s is negative, while majorities viewed the 1980s and 1990s positively (56% and 57% respectively). The attacks of September 11th were viewed by the majority (53%) as the most important event of the decade, distantly trailed by the election of Barack Obama (16%). Despite the current pessimism, people remain positive about the 2010s, with 59% reporting the belief that the next decade will be better. There is a partisan gap in outlook, with more Republicans than Democrats viewing the 2000s as generally positive – 35% vs 25% – although both parties had higher percentage of respondents who felt generally negative. There is a greater partisan gap in opinion looking ahead, with a large majority (75%) of Democrats expressing that the 2010s will be better, and only 20% believing that it will be worse. The Republicans are more divided on the issue, with 49% expressing that the 2010s will be better and 42% expressing that it will be worse.
The increase in racial and ethnic diversity as well as greater acceptance of gays and lesbians are two trends that are generally viewed positively, also with a partisan divide. Six in ten report that the increase in racial and ethnic diversity is a change for the better, with 57% of Republicans and 66% of Democrats in agreement on the issue. There is much less agreement, though still a plurality – 38% – expressing that increased acceptance of gays and lesbians has been a change for the better, with 21% of Republicans and 52% of Democrats.
A recent survey (PDF) conducted by CNN shows the disparity between blacks and whites on their views of presidential job approval and race relations now and moving forward.
# 91% of blacks approve of the way Barack Obama is performing as president, compared to 42% of whites and 54% overall
# 91% of blacks are happy or thrilled that Obama is president compared to 42% of whites; on the flip side, 4% of blacks are unhappy or depressed, compared to 41% of whites
# Only 45% of blacks – compared to 76% of whites – believe that blacks have equal chances as whites at securing any kind of job for which they are qualified
# Both blacks and whites are similarly optimistic that race relations will get better than they are, with 75% of blacks and 72% of whites agreeing on the issue; blacks have shown a substantial increase in optimism on this issue since 2007, when 49% expressed that race relations will improve, and 51% expressed that they would not.
Read more at The Opportunity Agenda website.
