Fall Survey Results

People who say the country is heading in the wrong direction- why? Wages are +$2/hour which people wanted- +wages, -supply +greater demand=+ prices. Yes, inflation up, but that's one of the reasons that the Rescue plan sent multiple payments, suggesting use what you need, save what you can because coming out of a pandemic is unpredictable. Unemployment is <5%, infrastructure bill has passed to provide clean water, rebuild our roads, bridges, etc. This will also bring more jobs. Also over 200 million vaccine doses have been administered, which will help us end the pandemic. The Dow is up over 5000 points-while the stock market is not a measure of the economy-people's 401ks, if they are lucky enough to have them, are way up. Many more people are covered by healthcare insurance than before. Sadly, there are people that will criticize every advancement that is made. Progress is slow. Be positive and be kind. Look out for your neighbor.

I 100% totally agree with these findings! May surprise you but I do feel the same!

I can see how HOPEFUL has gone down .. too much political fighting, hatred, jacked up prices, low inventory of stuff, etc.

I live in Florida and I cannot believe all those fleeing here to live in our state. The cost of new homes in our area went up 7 time from 01/2021 to 07/ 2021. Only the elite can afford to build and the builders cannot even promise what the end price will be. Existing homes get 8 to 10 bids over invoice and are bought sight unseen in one day. Some rents have gone up $500 to $900 per month so renters are scrambling to try to find new places to live. You can blame this on supply channels or you can open your eyes and figure out that something more is amiss in this countryInflation and gas prices are excessive and food prices have outpaced any "bump" in salary. In Tampa the housing has gone up 40%. Did you get a pay increase of 40% this year? How can our children afford this? Yes, I am pessimistic. But I am a realist and everyone I speak to here is noticing this. I think 2022 will be some welcome changes because enough Americans will go to the polls to alleviate this damage.

A bit of pessimism is noted in the then vs now category of Our Country heading in the right direction. I hope they are wrong. I like to feel optimistic in the fact that during the previous 4 years there was so much chaos and hate-mongering. Then the Insurrection on Jan 6th seemed to be the worst thing our country has seen since 9-11 in terms of disbelief that such a thing could happen. The difference is that after 9-11 our country came together like we've never seen before, but during and after the insurrection there is still divisiveness. I am hopeful that will end.

I think the results are pretty close to how I feel as well.

I think the Covid will ease up. Our political leaders need to work much more on bipartisanship to get this Country back on track. When political own interests continue to become more important than the health and welfare of all of us, we will be in big trouble.

So many feel like we are aboard a fast sinking ship with all that our administration has done to us and our country.

Interesting that hopefulness has dropped as well as the numbers of people who think we are going in the wrong direction have increased. Totally agree with this. This was bound to happen with the current administration, but who thought it would be so fast and so devastating.

Some of the findings I do agree with, but others I have a different outlook. I think the main thing I'm in agreement with is the wrong track our country is taking.