2009-01-06-皮尤-Gains_Seen_On_Minority_Discrimination_-_But_Little_Else_9页_45kb

A comprehensive analysis of the provided report from the Pew Research Center, released in December 2008, reveals significant perceptions among Americans about the country's progress on various national problems. Conducted among 1,489 adults, the survey highlighted that most key issues were viewed negatively, with a large majority—79% for the budget deficit and related economic matters—siding with the idea that the United States is losing ground, as opposed to making progress or seeing no change.

notably disadvantaged groups and expenditures. On average, 62% of the sample expressed concern about competing with other countries economically, while figures for economic problems like job availability (72%), cost of living (69%), and budget deficit had broadly deteriorated since February 2007. Minor exceptions to this pattern included reducing discrimination against minorities (53% say making progress), but this remains unchanged from historical data points.

Partisan differences are pronounced: Republicans generally expressed more optimism than Democrats on economic competitiveness but more pessimism on social issues and wars. For example, majorities of Democrats (59-70%) saw loss of ground in the gap between rich and poor, poverty, and social security, whereas Republicans showed more positive views on these. Conversely, on international conflicts and illegal immigration, wider partisan divisiveness was noted, with romanticism on Iraq and understated responses on Afghanistan by various groups.

The report compares these views to previous surveys from 1994-2002 and 2005, indicating a shift toward more pessimism in later years. Methodology relies on telephone polls, including cell phones, weighted to demographic parameters for balanced representation. Limitations include sampling error and potential biases from question wording. The report serves as a contextual resource for political and economic discourse, integrating timely polling data.