A recent Gallup poll found that more than three-quarters of Americans think the country’s founders would be disappointed with the US today. Only 19% of Americans believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be pleased with the way the US has turned out.

Pessimism and Pride

Despite this pessimism, around 7 in 10 Americans say that the country has had at least a fair amount of success in achieving its founding ideals. Additionally, 66% of Americans say they’re at least somewhat proud of who we are as a country, but just over half say they’re optimistic about the nation’s future as a democracy.

Americans view the US with a conflicting mix of pride and concern. The public is almost universal in calling the right to vote and freedom of speech key to the country’s national identity. However, just under half see that freedom of speech as facing major threats.

Looking to the Future

Pessimism about the country’s direction isn’t new, but it may be growing. In a recent NBC survey, just 38% of US adults say they’re confident that the United States’ best years still lie ahead, down from 45% in a 1990 survey. Furthermore, 78% of US adults say that the American Dream is harder to attain now than it was a generation ago.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.