(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States are disappointed with the current state of affairs, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 67 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country at this time.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in the United States are disappointed with the current state of affairs, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 67 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country at this time.
Since 2007, defaults on so-called subprime mortgages—credit given to high-risk borrowers—in the U.S. caused volatility in domestic and global financial markets and ultimately pushed the U.S. economy into a recession. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The crisis has affected the global financial and credit systems, and triggered layoffs in companies around the world.
Last year, the federal government—then under the leadership of U.S. president George W. Bush—took control of mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Other financial institutions—including Bear Stearns, Merril Lynch, Lehman Brothers, American International Group (AIG), IndyMac Bancorp and Washington Mutual—have been sold, placed under bankruptcy protection, or received emergency loans from the Federal Reserve.
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2008, Democratic nominee Barack Obama secured a majority of electoral votes, defeating Republican candidate John McCain. On Jan. 20, Obama became the first African American president in U.S. history.
Earlier this month, Nevada governor Jim Gibbons criticized Obama, saying, "Earlier this year, the president told an audience in Elkhart, Indiana, ‘You can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime.’ That quote was seen by many as an insult to Las Vegas and as a message to companies across the nation to stay away from Las Vegas for corporate meetings and conventions."
Polling Data
Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?
|
Very satisfied |
3% |
|
Moderately satisfied |
27% |
|
Moderately dissatisfied |
33% |
|
Very dissatisfied |
34% |
|
Not sure |
3% |
Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from May 6 to May 8, 2009. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
