The Number of Americans Who Say They Have a Better

CBS NEWS POLL For Release: Monday, January 4, 2010 For release: 6:30 pm (EST)

WHERE AMERICA STANDS: THE STATE OF AMERICA AND ITS FUTURE December 17-22, 2009

As the country looks ahead to a new decade, more than half of Americans say they are generally optimistic about America’s future over the next few years. But when assessing opportunities for success in their own lives, Americans are less positive now than they were at the start of the 21st century -- 10 years ago.

56% are optimistic about the future of the U.S, while 38% are pessimistic about where the country is headed.

FUTURE OF THE U.S. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS Now 3/1996 Optimistic 56% 59% Pessimistic 38 31

Younger Americans are more optimistic than those who are older. Seniors are least likely to be optimistic, with fewer than half (45%) saying they are. Political leanings matter too: Most Democrats (74%) are optimistic about the future of the U.S., while 58% of Republicans say they are pessimistic.

Still, fewer than half of Americans - 47% - say they have a better chance at success than their parents' generation did – a drop of 25 points from early 2000. Today, 27% say their opportunities to succeed in life are worse than their parents’ generation -- five times higher than the number who said that a decade ago.

COMPARED TO YOUR PARENTS' GENERATION, ARE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES... Now 6/2007 2/2000 Better 47% 62% 72% Same 24 18 22 Worse 27 18 5

There are striking gender differences, with 53% of women saying their opportunities for success are better than their parents, compared to just 40% of men who say that.

On this question, people age 65 and over – some of whose parents may have lived through the Great Depression – hold the most positive view of any age group.

The economy plays a role too. Among Americans who think the economy is in very bad shape, just a third says their opportunities to succeed in life are better than their parents with more – 44% - saying their opportunities are worse.

COMPARED TO YOUR PARENTS' GENERATION, ARE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES...? Better Same Worse Total 47% 24 27

Men 40% 27 32 Women 53% 21 24

Age 18-29 49% 27 23 30-44 41% 24 33 45-64 43% 25 29 65+ 60% 16 20

Republican 44% 28 27 Democrat 56% 23 19 Independent 40% 21 35

Economy is… Good 60% 31 8 Fairly bad 49% 25 23 Very bad 34% 20 44

Overall, most Americans say they are satisfied with the way things are going in their own lives, but just 22% are completely satisfied. Americans’ degree of satisfaction with their own lives has changed little over the years.

Income levels have an impact: those with higher incomes are more likely to be satisfied with how things are going for them compared to those earning less.

SATISFIED WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING IN YOUR LIFE? All <$50K $50K+ 1/1989 Completely satisfied 22% 15% 30% 22% Somewhat satisfied 50 46 53 55 Somewhat/completed dissatisfied 28 39 17 21

Americans are not without aspirations. When asked to volunteer what ambition or dream they would most like to accomplish in the next 10 years, starting a business of their own or making a career change was the top answer (16%). Living a long and healthy life is second, volunteered by 13% of Americans, followed by furthering one’s education (12%) and working less or packing it in and retiring (7%).

MAJOR AMBITION OR DREAM WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS? Career change/start own business 16% Long healthy life/keep living 13 Further education 12 Work less/retire 7 Success for children/grandchildren 6 Buy or own a home 6

------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.

CBS NEWS POLL Where America Stands: The State of America and its Future December 17-22, 2009 q1 How do you feel about the future of the United States over the next few years? Would you say that you are generally optimistic about the next few years for the U.S., or are you generally pessimistic about the next few years for the U.S.?

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** Total Men Women Mar96b % % % % Optimistic 56 53 59 59 Pessimistic 38 41 35 31 DK/NA 6 6 6 10 q3 Compared to your parents' generation, do you think in general your opportunities to succeed in life are better than theirs, about the same as theirs, or worse than theirs?

Jun07c Better 47 40 53 62 Same 24 27 21 18 Worse 27 32 24 18 DK/NA 2 1 2 2 q4 In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in your own life these days--would you say you are completely satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or would you say you are completely dissatisfied with the way things are going these days?

Completely satisfied 22 21 23 27 Somewhat satisfied 50 53 47 49 Somewhat dissatisfied 22 20 23 15 Completely dissatisfied 6 6 6 8 DK/NA 0 0 1 1 q6 What one major ambition or dream would you like to accomplish over the next 10 years?

Change career/start own business 16 20 12 Change job/careers 8 7 9 Start own business 8 13 3 Long healthy life/keep living 13 14 12 Further education 12 10 14 Work less/retire 7 8 6 Best for children/descendents 6 6 6 Buy/own a home 6 5 7 Make more money/become rich 5 5 5 Get married/have family 3 3 3 Work/career success 3 4 2 Travel 3 2 5 Write a book/screenplay 1 0 2 Nothing 1 0 1 Other 14 13 14 DK/NA 10 10 11

Unweighted Weighted Margin of error Total Respondents 1048 3 pts.

Total Men 442 493 5 pts. Total Women 606 555 4 pts.