85% of Americans are satisfied with their personal lives (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/181160/americans-personal-satisfaction-upswing.aspx

After falling during the economic downturn, Americans' satisfaction with the way things are going in their personal lives has recovered to 85%. Meanwhile, Americans' satisfaction with the direction of the country surged nine percentage points since December to 32%, one of its best readings in the last eight years.

Even on the upswing, 32% is still pretty damn low, and the discrepancy between this number and the 85% number is telling. It means basically that most of us are happy where we are, but we continue to believe that EVERYBODY ELSE is struggling.

Certainly the populists on the left and the right, who are currently dominating the political discussion, tell us this country is going down. Bernie Sanders says that the 1% has everything and that we're all getting screwed by Wall Street and the Establishment. Trump's message is similar, except for him it's not so much Wall Street, it's the political elites who are forcing Mexicans and Muslims and political correctness on the middle class. But the essence of their message is the same: things suck.

And the public agrees. But if 85% of them are personally satisfied, maybe things don't suck so bad after all...

 

[The Commish]

Did they follow up with a question asking if they thought things should be better? Doubt it. Just wondering. There's no question the country is complacent add a whole so this doesn't really surprise me as phrased

 

[SameSongNDance]

I'm less concerned with perception and more concerned with reality. Personal standards are subjective. A crackhead can be completely content or "satisfied" with being a crackhead, it means absolutely nothing.

 

[timschochet]

Did they follow up with a question asking if they thought things should be better? Doubt it. Just wondering. There's no question the country is complacent add a whole so this doesn't really surprise me as phrased

If things are bad, you don't say you're satisfied. Satisfaction and complacency are not the same.

 

[AAABatteries]

And the public agrees. But if 85% of them are personally satisfied, maybe things don't suck so bad after all...

One thing I try to instill in my kids is that circumstances and events come and go - we can choose to be happy and/or content in almost all situations. Having said that I also tell them they shouldn't settle for what they have but work to make things better for themselves and for others. I think that can apply here.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Nice thread topic Timothy, and I think I get your vibe here. If 85% of the country likes their personal lives and a good chunk surging on direction of country then you gotta think people are going to want to keep the Dems in the WH. The middle parts of the country can still win their Reps and Senate but it's never good when one party controls all 3.

I do wonder with the stock market not doing all that much this year, terrorism a major issue for many, still a lot of financial hardships for a lot of people with a major distance between the haves and have nots over the last many years, some folks will want a different party to have a go.

 

[Cjw_55106]

9 points since December? What month are we in now?

 

[The Commish]

Did they follow up with a question asking if they thought things should be better? Doubt it. Just wondering. There's no question the country is complacent add a whole so this doesn't really surprise me as phrased

If things are bad, you don't say you're satisfied. Satisfaction and complacency are not the same.

I'm just going to assume based on you not answering the question. I've learned.

 

[The Commish]

And the public agrees. But if 85% of them are personally satisfied, maybe things don't suck so bad after all...

One thing I try to instill in my kids is that circumstances and events come and go - we can choose to be happy and/or content in almost all situations. Having said that I also tell them they shouldn't settle for what they have but work to make things better for themselves and for others. I think that can apply here.

bingo

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

9 points since December? What month are we in now?

That piece is dated Jan 2015

 

[The Commish]

Nice thread topic Timothy, and I think I get your vibe here. If 85% of the country likes their personal lives and a good chunk surging on direction of country then you gotta think people are going to want to keep the Dems in the WH. The middle parts of the country can still win their Reps and Senate but it's never good when one party controls all 3.

I do wonder with the stock market not doing all that much this year, terrorism a major issue for many, still a lot of financial hardships for a lot of people with a major distance between the haves and have nots over the last many years, some folks will want a different party to have a go.

liking <> satisfied

 

[NutterButter]

So no revolution anytime soon? So much for my righty dad's annual prediction.

 

[The Commish]

So no revolution anytime soon? So much for my righty dad's annual prediction.

country it's way too lazy for Revolution

 

[avoiding injuries]

9 points since December? What month are we in now?

People got what they wanted for Christmas.

 

[NutterButter]

So no revolution anytime soon? So much for my righty dad's annual prediction.

country it's way too lazy for Revolution

no ####. i just laugh at the extremists especially the righties that say otherwise.

 

[Fennis]

9 points since December? What month are we in now?

That piece is dated Jan 2015

imagine how high the sat rate must be now.

 

[Daywalker]

My professional life is at a niiione.

 

[Zegras11]

Timothy. LOL.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

So no revolution anytime soon? So much for my righty dad's annual prediction.

country it's way too lazy for Revolution

Well said

 

[Ilov80s]

My whole life is really good. No clue what these politicians are talking about. America is amazing right now. The exchange rate in Mexico is so good you are losing $ by not coming here right now.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

It really is a shame that most Americans are enjoying their lives too much to want to take up arms in violent revolution.

 

[Dentist]

15%er here.

Don't have 2 kids under 2.

It doesn't matter how much money you have.. it sucks the life right out of you... I'd convert to an 85%er if you gave me a week of 10 hour a night sleep sessions.

 

[Koya]

Also, 83% of respondents admit to lying on questionnaires to feel better about their ####ty ### life.

 

[MikeIke]

15%er here.

Don't have 2 kids under 2.

It doesn't matter how much money you have.. it sucks the life right out of you... I'd convert to an 85%er if you gave me a week of 10 hour a night sleep sessions.

Nomarriage.com.

 

[AnonymousBob]

Thanks, Obama?

 

[jon_mx]

So no revolution anytime soon? So much for my righty dad's annual prediction.

country it's way too lazy for Revolution

That is why we need to outsource it.

 

[Cjw_55106]

9 points since December? What month are we in now?

That piece is dated Jan 2015

Nice try Tim.

 

[The Future Champs]

15%er here. Somehow it's Obama's fault I'm not getting laid.

 

[Judge Smails]

15%er here.

Don't have 2 kids under 2.

It doesn't matter how much money you have.. it sucks the life right out of you... I'd convert to an 85%er if you gave me a week of 10 hour a night sleep sessions.

Dentist, is that you? Really?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/181160/americans-personal-satisfaction-upswing.aspx

After falling during the economic downturn, Americans' satisfaction with the way things are going in their personal lives has recovered to 85%. Meanwhile, Americans' satisfaction with the direction of the country surged nine percentage points since December to 32%, one of its best readings in the last eight years.

Even on the upswing, 32% is still pretty damn low, and the discrepancy between this number and the 85% number is telling. It means basically that most of us are happy where we are, but we continue to believe that EVERYBODY ELSE is struggling.

Certainly the populists on the left and the right, who are currently dominating the political discussion, tell us this country is going down. Bernie Sanders says that the 1% has everything and that we're all getting screwed by Wall Street and the Establishment. Trump's message is similar, except for him it's not so much Wall Street, it's the political elites who are forcing Mexicans and Muslims and political correctness on the middle class. But the essence of their message is the same: things suck.

And the public agrees. But if 85% of them are personally satisfied, maybe things don't suck so bad after all...

I think you're tying together two unconnected issues.

About 75 percent of all U.S. adults express discontent with federal leadership as 2015 closes, according to the CNN/ORC survey, while 69 percent are at least “somewhat angry” with the country’s direction.

Republicans are far more angry and dissatisfied with their government than Democrats, with 90 percent of GOP voters expressing dissatisfaction with "the way the nation is being governed” and 82 percent angry with the country’s direction.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/264361-poll-majority-dissatisfied-with-americas-government

I just listened to a Sanders stump speech for maybe the third time on Cspan. for some reason I never catch Hillary. Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that his best line was about holding bankers to the law and enforcing the law. Now I agree with that. To me that is a reform message. But I can't help but notice the similarity of that message with Trump who says hey let's enforce the law when it comes to immigration. I think people have a real aching for order, democracy, enforcement of the law, accountability and some sense that they are in control of their government.

 

[The Commish]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/181160/americans-personal-satisfaction-upswing.aspx

After falling during the economic downturn, Americans' satisfaction with the way things are going in their personal lives has recovered to 85%. Meanwhile, Americans' satisfaction with the direction of the country surged nine percentage points since December to 32%, one of its best readings in the last eight years.

Even on the upswing, 32% is still pretty damn low, and the discrepancy between this number and the 85% number is telling. It means basically that most of us are happy where we are, but we continue to believe that EVERYBODY ELSE is struggling.

Certainly the populists on the left and the right, who are currently dominating the political discussion, tell us this country is going down. Bernie Sanders says that the 1% has everything and that we're all getting screwed by Wall Street and the Establishment. Trump's message is similar, except for him it's not so much Wall Street, it's the political elites who are forcing Mexicans and Muslims and political correctness on the middle class. But the essence of their message is the same: things suck.

And the public agrees. But if 85% of them are personally satisfied, maybe things don't suck so bad after all...

I think you're tying together two unconnected issues.

About 75 percent of all U.S. adults express discontent with federal leadership as 2015 closes, according to the CNN/ORC survey, while 69 percent are at least somewhat angry with the countrys direction.

Republicans are far more angry and dissatisfied with their government than Democrats, with 90 percent of GOP voters expressing dissatisfaction with "the way the nation is being governed and 82 percent angry with the countrys direction.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/264361-poll-majority-dissatisfied-with-americas-governmentI just listened to a Sanders stump speech for maybe the third time on Cspan. for some reason I never catch Hillary. Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that his best line was about holding bankers to the law and enforcing the law. Now I agree with that. To me that is a reform message. But I can't help but notice the similarity of that message with Trump who says hey let's enforce the law when it comes to immigration. I think people have a real aching for order, democracy, enforcement of the law, accountability and some sense that they are in control of their government.

This unequal application of the law (which has been going on for a long time and seems to be perfectly acceptable to a lot of establishment types) is where the anger movement began IMO though I'd have labeled it frustration initially. It seems that the pundits accepting it and defending it has helped escalate things to an anger stage that we now have to deal with.

 

[Sabertooth]

I don't think I'll ever get to a point where I feel satisfied. I'm always looking to improve in one area or another. It's a blessing and a curse.

 

[Brony]

I'm satisfied with Tim's personal life.

 

[NutterButter]

So no revolution anytime soon? So much for my righty dad's annual prediction.

country it's way too lazy for Revolution

That is why we need to outsource it.

Only if we can sell them the arms as well

 

[Ilov80s]

I don't think I'll ever get to a point where I feel satisfied. I'm always looking to improve in one area or another. It's a blessing and a curse.

Absolutely, but almost everyone I know that isn't legitimately mentally or physically ill is pretty happy with their lives. Like Drake and Future said, "what a time to be alive."

 

[TheAristocrat]

Will 2015 Be a Rosy Year For Wine?

This is the January 2015 news thread, right?

 

[Fennis]

Will 2015 Be a Rosy Year For Wine?

This is the January 2015 news thread, right?

the answer was yes, 2015 was a rosy year for wine and it was the year of the grape.

http://stephenrmorse.net/2015-a-rosy-year-for-wine-lovers/

http://planetjh.com/2015/12/29/imbibe-year-of-the-grape/

 

[Cjw_55106]

When was the last time Tim started a thread and didn't show up in it for 24 hours? Just admit you made a mistake bud. Everything is going to be alright.