A vast majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the country's progress. The main reasons are the economic situation, crime and the current president, Joe Biden. In addition, rising crime, partisan division, immigration, social problems also contribute to national pessimism. In contrast, a significant number of citizens declared themselvessatisfied with their own lives.
Why are so many Americans unhappy with the state of the US today? Here’s what they said in a new CNN poll https://t.co/jEYdXnTSe6
— CNN (@CNN) April 29, 2023
69% believe the U.S. is doing "quite or very badly".
This is indicated by a CNN poll, published on Saturday, according to which 69% of those surveyed consider that things in the country are going "quite or very badly". Worrying economic forecasts are one of the main reasons for these figures. The news of layoffs of thousands of people from large companies and the uncertainty about the true situation of the financial system do not help either. Among the most repeated reasons among those who claim that things are going badly are inflation and the cost of living. In addition, there is an important difference in the perception of the situation depending on the party voted for. Thus, while 58% of Republican supporters see the economic march as a cause for their discontent, the number drops to 42% among Democrats.
16% point to criminality and armed violence
In second place comes crime. As many as 16% of Americans stated that the main cause of the poor national situation is crime or gun violence. However, within this figure are different modalities, mainly grouped the fear of violent riots, lawlessness or the latest school shootings. A smaller number target drug trafficking, the police, the penal system and the homeless.
Biden, responsible for the 11%
The podium is closed by respondents' confidence in the current occupant of the White House, whom 11% pointed to as directly responsible for the country's poor performance, a figure that rises to 17% if only conservative voters were asked. Biden's popularity is again near its lowest levels, according to different polls. CNN's most recent sampling, dating back to March, shows that Biden's job approval rating as president was 42%. However, other more recent polls indicate that fewer and fewer people believe that the president is doing well at the helm of the country. For example, in the last poll published so far, from Gallup, only 37% approve of his administration, his lowest during the legislature for this pollster.
Immigration, main concern for 10% of the population
The next point of discontent is immigration. Ten percent of the participants who consider that things are going badly pointed to this issue and the border situation as the most prominent cause. Among those who pointed mostly to this point were Republican voters (17%), those over 45 (15%) and white Americans (12%).
Bipartisan division
Tension between the major parties is another cause of concern for respondents. This growing estrangement between the two formations is also noticeable among their supporters. According to the poll, 91% of Republican supporters believed the country is doing poorly, compared to 48% of Democrats. Seven percent of those who view the national situation with pessimism point to the country's political or social divisions as the cause. Democratic voters (13%) and college-educated people (12%) are the ones who point to this point as the main cause of their discouragement.
The majority, satisfied with their own lives
In contrast, most Americans consider themselves relatively satisfied with the course of their own lives. In fact, 8% of those who consider that the US is doing well do so from the perspective of their own personal experiences.
