US citizens less satisfied with personal freedom: Poll

Image
IANS Washington
Last Updated : Jul 02 2014 | 1:09 PM IST

As the US gears up to celebrate Fourth of July, a new Gallup poll indicates a significant decline in the number of Americans who are satisfied with their freedom to choose what they do with their lives.

The number of Americans who reported they were satisfied with their freedom has dropped 12 points in less than a decade, from 91 percent in 2006 to 79 percent in 2013, the findings showed.

Also, the number of Americans who reported they were dissatisfied with their level of freedom more than doubled since 2006, up from nine percent to 21 percent.

According to the poll, confidence in the US economy is still lacking, years after the recession began, and Americans consistently rank the economy as one of the country's biggest problems.

The Gallup poll also pointed towards the poor confidence in the government as another possible reason that feelings of freedom have declined.

In the US, 79 percent believe government corruption is a serious problem, up 20 percent from 2006.

Gallup also reported that confidence in the Supreme Court and Congress hit record lows this year, and that confidence in the presidency hit a six-year low.

However, spending habits have almost completely recovered since the 2008 economic downturn.

Job creation is also on the rise, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 02 2014 | 1:02 PM IST

Next Story