Asked to assess the progress, or lack thereof, the country is making on 12 issues, a majority of plurality of the public sees America losing ground on nine major issues. Large numbers of Americans see the country losing ground on the budget deficit (67%), the financial condition of Social Security (64%), the cost of living (64%), and the availability of good-paying jobs (63%). A majority sees the country losing ground on the rich-poor gap (58%), the ability to compete internationally (55%) and the financial condition of Medicare (51%). On no issue asked about do more than three-in-ten Americans see the country making progress. A plurality, though, at least sees the country “staying about the same” on international terrorism and environmental pollution. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.