People visit the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Feb. 23, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Xinhua)
When Americans reflect on the country's past, the present looks worse by comparison.
NEW YORK, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Americans are in a negative mood about the current state of the country, with large majorities expressing dissatisfaction with the economy and overall national conditions, said Pew Research Center on Monday.
"When they look toward the not-too-distant future, they see a country that in many respects will be worse than it is today," the center cited its survey.
"Sizable majorities of U.S. adults say that in 2050 - just over 25 years away - the U.S. economy will be weaker, the United States will be less important in the world, political divisions will be wider and there will be a larger gap between the rich and the poor," it said. "Far fewer adults predict positive developments in each of these areas."
When Americans reflect on the country's past, the present looks worse by comparison, it noted. Around six-in-ten (58 percent) say that life for people like them is worse today than it was 50 years ago, according to the survey, which was conducted from March 27 to April 2.
Despite these negative attitudes, a majority of Americans say they generally have at least some confidence in the future of the U.S. But far fewer have quite a lot of confidence, and the share of Americans who express confidence in the country's future has declined over the past year, it added. ■
