According to Gallup, Americans’ satisfaction with the way things are going in the country has dropped at the year’s end. Only 16% say they are satisfied with the nation’s direction, compared to 21% in November, 28% in October, and 41% in January. The only points this year where it was lower was in the midst of the pandemic in July (13%) and August (14%).
The drop was in large part driven by Republicans and Independents. Satisfaction is down 13 points from November and 38 from October with Republicans (22%), and down eight points from November and seven from October with Independents (14%). Satisfaction has improved five points among Democrats in the last month. The presidential election’s outcome is likely behind these shift across but the numbers speak to Americans’ consternation as businesses remain closed and COVID-19 deaths rise.
What does this mean as we approach 2021? Republicans and Independents are not seeing recovery on the horizon post COVID-19, while Democrats are slightly more optimistic things will improve. President-elect Joe Biden would be best served to remember those on the opposite side of the aisle who don’t view his election as the answer and take their concerns to heart and address them in his first 100 days.
