Americans More Fearful About Their Future — and the World's
Analysis By Gary Langer
Dec. 28
— Americans have grown sharply more fearful about the new year ahead, in terms of both their personal outlook and the world's in general, an ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll has found. Two prime factors appear to be at play: the possibility of war with Iraq, and the condition of the nation's economy.
JOBLESS CLAIMS JUMP PAST 400,000; SECOND-HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE SEPTEMBER 2005
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Most striking is the change in the public's global outlook: 56 percent of Americans say they're more fearful, rather than more hopeful, about what 2003 holds in store for the world. Last year, in sharp contrast, hopefulness prevailed.
The personal outlook is less rosy as well. While 63 percent are more hopeful than fearful about their own lives in 2003, that's down from 80 percent last year. And 35 percent are now more fearful personally — more than double its level a year ago.
The economy is one strong factor. In terms of their personal prospects, people who rate the economy negatively are 20 points more fearful than are those who rate it positively. And people who rate it the most negatively are 30 points more fearful.
Economic views have a similar impact on views of the global situation: People who rate the economy negatively are 22 points more fearful about the world's prospects in 2003 than are those who rate the economy positively.
On Iraq, people who approve of President Bush's policy are more hopeful than fearful for their own future prospects by 70-27 percent; but among those who disapprove of Bush's Iraq policy it's an even split — 50 percent hopeful, 49 percent fearful.
World Outlook in the Year Ahead
Dec. 2002
Dec. 2001
Change
More Hopeful
43%
62
-19
More Fearful
56
35
+21
Personal Outlook in the Year Ahead
Dec. 2002
Dec. 2001
Change
More Hopeful
63%
80
-17
More Fearful
35
16
+19
Personal Rating of the Economy
Positive
Negative
Most Negative
More Hopeful
77%
55
46
More Fearful
22
42
52
Similarly, people who approve of Bush's Iraq policy divide about evenly on the world's prospects, but those who disapprove of his policy are more fearful than hopeful, by a wide 28-point margin.
World Outlook: Bush's Iraq Policy
Approve
Disapprove
More Hopeful
48%
36%
More Fearful
51
64
Women More Fearful Than Men
In terms, of their personal lives, women are more fearful than men by an 11-point margin, with an increase in the last year of 17 points among men, and 22 points among women. Democrats are 20 points more apt than Republicans to be fearful about their own future, and fearfulness has risen in the last year by 23 points among Democrats, compared to 17 points among Republicans.
In global outlook, Democrats are more fearful than Republicans by a 15-point margin, and liberals are more fearful than conservatives by 11 points — suggesting that it helps calm the nerves to have your guy in the White House.
Methodology
This ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone Dec. 12-15, among a random national sample of 1,209 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Fieldwork was conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.
JOBLESS CLAIMS JUMP PAST 400,000; SECOND-HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE SEPTEMBER 2005
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