2007 C-100 Interactive Report

United States:

• A majority of all four samples believe the U.S. is headed on the wrong track, with the highest percentages among the general public (59%) and Congressional staffers (66%).
• Democrats (28%) are least likely to believe the country is on the right track. A third of Independents (32%) have the same opinion, while Republicans are evenly divided on the issue—48 percent believe the U.S. is on the right track, 47 percent on the wrong track.
• More than half of all respondents, ranging in age from 18 to 75, say the U.S. is heading on the wrong track. Those between the ages of 25 and 34 years old are most likely to say the country is heading on the wrong path (70%), while those 18-24 are the least likely to hold the same opinion (55%).
• Income has little to do with the opinion that the U.S. is moving in the wrong direction, as those making less than $25,000 a year (60%) agree with those making more than $100,000 (63%) that things are on the wrong track.
• People with less than a high school education (51%) are less likely than those with additional schooling to say things are headed down the wrong track.
• People living in the Central and Great Lakes regions (57%) and those in the West (52%) are less likely to say the U.S. is on the wrong track compared to opinions of those in the East (66%) and the South (63%).

China:

• An overwhelming majority of all three samples believe China is headed on the right track. This view is highest among business leaders (95%) as compared to the general public (88%) and opinion leaders (89%).
• 94% of Communist Party members think China is heading in the right direction, 6 percentage points higher than non-Party members.
• Elderly people are more likely to agree that China is moving in the right direction (ages 50–60: 90%; 40–49: 90%; 30–39: 88%; 18–29: 85%).
• People working for government and non-corporate institutions are more likely to think China is heading in the right direction (94%) than other occupational groups.