In the past year this group has had to take many actions to make ends meet, including 70 percent that cut electricity use and home heating; 62 percent that took an extra job or worked extra hours, 51 percent that postponed medical or dental care and 50 percent that took money out of savings or retirement funds.
All this sounds pretty bleak. But are these people mad and pessimistic? Not exactly.
An amazing 69 percent are hopeful about their personal financial situation, 59 percent believe they are more likely over the next few years to move up in terms of their social class, 59 percent believe that their children will have a standard of living much or somewhat better than theirs, and 56 percent think they will achieve the American dream in their lifetime.
Do these lower economic class, hardest hit Americans that account for 25 percent of the adult population believe that government helps them? No. Only 22 percent believe that government programs are making things better for them. But apparently they have bought hook, line and sinker into Barack Obama’s change rhetoric, with a 2 to 1 margin favoring him over John McCain. And when it comes to beliefs about which candidate will do better for them the margins favoring Obama go up to 3 or more to 1 for improving their own financial situation, the national economy and the national health care system. Similarly, Obama is seen as much more concerned with their needs and better represent their values. All very good news for Obama, except that only 70 are registered to vote and about a third saw no difference in whether Obama or McCain was in office.
Faith in Obama, however, pales in comparison to the other source of comfort for dealing with hard economic times. A striking 78 percent find religion or faith in God helps them get through tough economic times.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
Joel, I know you keep a copy of Das Kapital by your bedside. So is it really necessary to reiterate one of the few things Marx got right, that "religion is the opiate of the masses"?
That said, I apreciate that you've compiled all of this data for us. Pity you missed the actual significance of it. What you seem not to see here is that the 'working poor' are smarter than you or the rest of the socialist left think they are. They are optimistic specifically because they know that they can't count on a government handout and that they have the opportunity to get a second job or work more hours or look for better work and advance themselves without depending on government, and that makes them feel responsible and in control and capable of achieving the Amnerican dream FOR THEMSELVES.
They don't want a handout or the false hope that socialism offers. It is being responsible for their own welfare and having the opportunities which a free labor market offers them which GIVES them the hope that they have. When will this get through to you socialists?
Dave
2 - Dan Miller
While doing intensive academic research at an esteemed University, I happened upon the Original Declaration of Independence. It is quoted in part below:
Dan
3 - Clavos
LOL!
Very funny (and dead on), Dan.
4 - bliffle
It appears that the majority of US citizens have been dissuaded from active participation in political matters. Perhaps they are too busy defending what they have to struggle for more. Perhaps they would rather watch Paris Hilton on TV in hopes of spying some cleavage, if only to fume at such scandals.
It's not for lack of opinions. they all seem to have opinions. For those few of us who have actually marched around the neighborhood with a clipboard and petition and pen for signatures, we always get stopped by long diatribes from homeowners as they unburden themselves of bottled up resentments. But the ones who talk the most usually sign the least, so you have to be skilled at getting out. Also, if you hope to make a sale you have to figure out a ploy. I like to use money: "if they build that new $3million subdivision across the street EVERYONEs property taxes will go up. Pretty soon that little 500k house of yours and mine will be afflicted by the same tax scale as for the Mcmansion. And the damn things will blight your sightlines and clog the roads for good measure!"
But there's a difference these days. People are too cynical or discouraged to seek improvement through political activism. A right not exercised is a right soon lost. Maybe, maybe not. Seems like inevitably the Powers That Be overplay their hand and there's an outraged uprising. We can only hope.
5 - Clavos
God (or whomever) bless the starry-eyed idealists; the Seekers of Truth, the Believers in the Inherent Goodness of Man, The Meaning of Life, the Benevolence of the State.
Without them, what would we do for amusement?
6 - suppose
Mr. Hirschorn:
Karl Marx would be most proud of you.