Satisfaction With Way Things Going in U.S. Continues Post-War Decline

...ratings of satisfaction with the state of the nation continue their post-war decline. Forty-seven percent of Americans say they are satisfied, down from 60% immediately after the start of the Iraq conflict. For the first time since the war began, more Americans are dissatisfied than satisfied. The poll also finds that nearly half of Americans mention economic concerns as the most important problem facing the United States, about where it has been since the U.S. victory in Iraq was assured. Americans are currently more optimistic about the direction of the economy than they have been in about a year.

The poll, conducted June 12-15, finds 47% of Americans satisfied and 51% dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. This continues a downward trend that began as major fighting in Iraq wound down, though the current figures remain higher than those found prior to the war. Following the beginning of military action, satisfaction zoomed from 36% to 60%. Decay became evident by the beginning of April, when satisfaction dropped to 55% during the U.S. takeover of Baghdad.