Poll: Fewer say They Have it Better Than Parents

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Polling

(CBS)

More than half of Americans are optimistic about the future of the United States over the next few years, a new CBS News poll finds. But they are less optimistic about their own opportunities than they were ten years ago.

Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said they are generally optimistic about the country's future, while 38 percent were pessimistic about the nation's prospects. That's slightly less optimism than CBS News found in 1996, when 59 percent were optimistic about the country's future and 31 percent were pessimistic.

Younger Americans are more optimistic than their older counterparts, and Democrats are more optimistic than Republicans: Nearly three in four Democrats are optimistic about America's future, while a majority of Republicans are pessimistic.

Americans are generally less optimistic about their own prospects than they were in 2007 or 2000. Fewer than half (47 percent) say they have better opportunities than their parents' generation, a decline of 15 percentage points from June 2007 and 25 percentage points from early 2000.

The poll was taken as part of CBS News' "Where America Stands" series, an in-depth look at where the country stands today on key topics and an outlook for the future decade.

Read More About the Series
Hopes and Fears for the Next Decade
Read the Complete Poll

(CBS)

More than one in four says they have worse opportunities than their parents' generation. In 2000, just five percent said as much.

Women are generally more optimistic than men: Fifty-three percent say they have better opportunities for success than their parents' generation, while just 40 percent of men say so.

One in two Americans say they are somewhat satisfied with how things are going in their life. Twenty-two percent are completely satisfied, while 28 percent are either somewhat or completely dissatisfied.

Income levels appear to make a difference. While 30 percent of those who make more than $50,000 are completely satisfied, just 15 percent of those who make less than that amount say they are completely satisfied. And while nearly 40 percent of those who make less than $50,000 are dissatisfied, just 17 percent of those who make more than $50,000 say the same.

Americans polled for the survey were asked to volunteer an ambition or dream they want to accomplish over the next decade. The most volunteered response, offered by 16 percent of those surveyed, was to start a business of their own or make a career change.

Thirteen percent said they simply want to live a long and healthy life, or simply go on living. Another twelve percent said they wanted to further their education, while seven percent wanted to work less or retire.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1048 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone December 17-22, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by chevyhotrod January 5, 2010 3:08 PM EST: by legacyABQ2 January 5, 2010 10:13 AM EST
Gotcha McCarthy

What the heck are you talking about legacy, you make no sense?

Gotcha????? The discussion we were having is well beyond grade school.; Reply to this comment


by chevyhotrod January 5, 2010 3:05 PM EST: by ddaryl1 January 5, 2010 1:34 PM EST
If what we have to day is capitialism then scrap it.

If this country and our government can not be bothered to put the wealth back into the pockets of the workers then screw it all.. I won't raise a finger to help this excuse for a country.. and no I won't leave.. I will be a burden on you until I die. So either fix the problem or watch this country fall apart your choice.

ddaryl1,

You are why the country is in the state that it is in. Your quote "I will be a burden on you until I die." People like you have nothing to give or add to society and should be treated like the dirt that you are. You should be put out to pastor too rot.

The President, Senators or Congressmen have no right, law or authority to take wealth from one citizen and give it to another. If you do not like your job, quite and find another, or better yet, start your own company and stop your complaining.

The redistribution of wealth it was caused the fall of communism. Workers of the world, unite? Karl Marx. The fact that you are unwilling to raise a finger to help is part of the entitlement mentality that has crippled this great country and if you consider the United States of America an excuse, then you are sorely misguided and will never be part of the American Dream or solution. It will take all of us together to fix the problems and obviously you will not be part of it.

By the way, what we have today is not Capitalism. That is part of the problem. Capitalism is freedom and Socialism is slavery and remember the American Revolution was won with less than 3% of the population and we will be coming after people like you first.; Reply to this comment


by GreatDepression January 5, 2010 1:12 PM EST: The Ideas of our Founding Fathers was not the reason for our Empire!

Before WWII, America was nobody. America was just getting out of a Legal Slavery-based economy and a long deep Great Depression. Also, there was no IRS before WWI.

After WWII, America had a World ECONOMIC MONOPOLY. The economies of all foreign nations were Ruined and Destroyed. Consequently, all foreign developing nations were Forced to purchase at the only store 'Made in USA' at our High Monopoly Price which raised our Standard of living thru the Roof. The Brain Drain from these nations also significantly helped America. The inventors of the Atomic bomb and Jet Technology were all immigrants.

Today, America got No World ECONOMIC MONOPOLY. Americans must lower their Standard of Living in order to have a chance to Compete with Foreign Developed Nations.

I do not give Blame and Credit to Capitalism, Democracy, Freedom, Liberty, Innovation, Organized Labor, Small Businesses, Hard Work, Limited Government, Fiscal responsibility, Strength, Founding Fathers, Leadership and IQ Level. I credit our once Monopoly status for our prosperity of the last 60 years.

This World Economic Monopoly is gone now, so WE THE PEOPLE must learn to live without it.; Reply to this comment


by GreatDepression January 5, 2010 1:07 PM EST: Who cares about Freedom and Liberty when I am getting Super Cash Rich in China and Vietnam?

What good is Freedom and Liberty when I have no Prosperity (job)?; Reply to this comment

by GreatDepression January 5, 2010 1:05 PM EST

Money will never make you happy!

Reply to this comment


by ddaryl1 January 5, 2010 1:30 PM EST: BS money benefits and retirement would make me extremly happy and fullfilled

that was a foolishly dumb thing to post.. Money will make you happy if you can live better and provide for your family.. however extreme riches will not fulfill you

by quapawsix January 5, 2010 12:08 PM EST

ministry of truth if America is so hot to jump on the band wagon to help explain to all what happened in New Orleans? Why is it we can help these third world dung holes but yet we just can't seem to help our own citizens.

Reply to this comment


by TheStolenGiraffe January 5, 2010 12:25 PM EST: because fighting two wars overseas leaves us under-staffed and under-funded at home.


by ddaryl1 January 5, 2010 1:30 PM EST: We the corporations

It is no longer we the people

by troutfishyman January 5, 2010 11:41 AM EST

by chevyhotrod January 5, 2010 11:23 AM EST
trout,
The point I was attempting to make is the "quality of life" is defined by the individual and should not be compared to the last generation. Life is what YOU make of it, not what others decide for you.

You might say life is in decline because our government gets to decide more and more what personal property we are aloud to keep and what we are not, that I would agree.

Comparison to the last generation is extremely important, whether you agree or not. Everything needs a reference point. And I really doubt that this has ANYTHING to do with the govt, but nice try.

Reply to this comment


by finkfurst January 5, 2010 12:31 PM EST: troutfishyman
"Life is what YOU make of it, not what others decide for you."

Does your argument also apply to an American soldier killed in Iraq, or an Afghan child maimed by an American bomb? Both happened because of YOUR attitude and ignorance, and how YOU voted...............


by chevyhotrod January 5, 2010 1:18 PM EST: Trout,
My life does not have a reference point compared to the last generation. Every generation is unique and different from others. Your comparison must be based on material needs, which is irrelevant from what I am talking about. Even if you were Bill Gates son, it does not guarantee you wealth.

"That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves."

Thomas Jefferson

Finkfurst,
No American soldier killed in Iraq or an Afghan child maimed by an American bomb would have happened if 911 did not happen. Our government has an obligation to defend it's citizens. If the Afghan people would have given up Bin Laden, the war would not have happened. Your attitude and ignorance is what is going to kill Americans in the future.

By the way, the American Armed Forces are voluntary. People are not forced to serve, as in most other countries, it is a choice by an individual to serve. At least in this point in time.

by troutfishyman January 5, 2010 11:07 AM EST

by chevyhotrod January 5, 2010 9:31 AM EST
Life is what you make of it. Some parents were better off, some were not. Each individual will have to make their own decisions on what they wish to offer society.

You clearly have missed the main point. IE, an overall declining quality of life as compared to the last generation. Which in turn is symptomatic of an empire in decline.

Reply to this comment


by chevyhotrod January 5, 2010 11:23 AM EST: trout,
The point I was attempting to make is the "quality of life" is defined by the individual and should not be compared to the last generation. Life is what YOU make of it, not what others decide for you.

You might say life is in decline because our government gets to decide more and more what personal property we are aloud to keep and what we are not, that I would agree.

We are all different, with different needs and wants. It is up to the individual to decide what those needs and wants are and work for those dreams.

Hope is an excuse for doing nothing.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

"We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the succeeding generation, more than the inhabitants of another country."

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."

Thomas Jefferson


by displeased January 5, 2010 10:33 AM EST: Financially, I'm probably about equal to what my parents were during this time of their lives. However, I'm smarter, healthier, and more publicly active than they've ever been.; Reply to this comment


by pubsrtoast January 5, 2010 10:02 AM EST: Income levels appear to make a difference. While 30 percent of those who make more than $50,000 are completely satisfied, just 15 percent of those who make less than that amount say they are completely satisfied. And while nearly 40 percent of those who make less than $50,000 are dissatisfied, just 17 percent of those who make more than $50,000 say the same.
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50k in NY or CA amounts to chickenfeed. Conversely, 50k in Mississippi is living high on the hog. Without factoring in the cost of living, this question is meaningless.; Reply to this comment