The State of American Discontent

visual.ly THE STATE OF AMERICAN Discontent Call it the summer of American discontent. In a Pew Research Center survey conducted in mid-August, public satisfaction with the federal government hit its lowest percentage -- 11% -- since 1997. The share of Americans who said they were angry with the government, meanwhile, has doubled since March. What is behind the anger and frustration, and how do Americans rank their financial concerns? Here are the highlights of the survey. Financial concerns A LOT A LITTLE NOT AT ALL 69% 23% 7% 58% 34% 7% 43% 34% 19% GAS PRICES FOOD / CONSUMER GOOD PRICES FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT 42% 26% 30% 35% 28% 34% 24% 37% 34% JOB SITUATION REAL ESTATE VALUES STOCK MARKET Feeling about federal government ANGRY FRUSTRATED BASICALLY CONTENT 1997 12% 56% 29% 2000 10% 54% 33% 2001 8% 34% 53% 2004 13% 52% 32% 2006 20% 54% 21% 2007 16% 58% 21% 2010 23% 52% 21% Mar 2011 14% 59% 22% Aug 2011 26% 60% 11% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Disapproval of parties in power FEBRUARY AUGUST OBAMA 42% 49% APPROVAL REPUBLICANS 48% 59% DEMOCRATS 46% 50% CONGRESS 57% 70% How people see Obama 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% Able to get things done Strong leader Stands up for what he believes in Well- informed 100% 80% 60%- 40%- 20%- Warm & Trustworthy Cares about Good communicator friendly people like How people see the GOP field EXCELLENT/GOOD ONLY FAIR/P0OR All registered voters Republican & Republican-leaning voters 80% 80% 70 63% 61% 64% 70 59% 60 60 46% 43% 43% 44% 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 1995 2007 MAY AUG 1995 2007 MAY AUG 2011 2011 2011 2011 SOURCE: PEw RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS