More than half Americans say they are 'struggling': poll

[one...two...tree 2,762]

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The number of Americans who say their lives are a struggle climbed steeply last year from less than half the population to nearly six in 10 people, a vast Gallup poll showed Friday.

"In January of 2008, 49 percent of Americans were thriving, 47 percent struggling and four percent were suffering. In November and December, 38 percent were thriving, 58 percent struggling and four percent suffering," Gallup scientist Jim Harter commented on findings of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

"The 11-point swing in struggling Americans represents more than 22 million people," Harter said on Gallup's website.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090116/pl_af..._20090116152133

[flicker 5]

americans consider life a struggle if they cant buy something new everyday ,,,even the ones on welfare and assistance ...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

do they let the respondents define what 'struggling' means or does the survey define it for them

[one...two...tree 2,762]

do they let the respondents define what 'struggling' means or does the survey define it for them

http://www.gallup.com/poll/110125/Gallup-D...-WellBeing.aspx

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being measure asks Americans to evaluate their lives by imagining a "ladder" with steps numbered from 0 to 10, where "0" represents the worst possible life and "10" represents the best possible life. Americans in the "thriving" group say that they presently stand on step 7 or higher of the ladder and expect to stand on step 8 or higher five years from now. Americans in the "struggling" group say they presently stand on steps 0 to 4 of the ladder and expect to stand on steps 0 to 4 five years from now. Those who are neither "thriving" nor "suffering" are considered to be "struggling." Each result is based on a three-day rolling average.

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So if I'm on step 7 and expect to stay on 7, I'm struggling?

Hmmm. Frustrated, perhaps. But I'm hardly struggling at 7.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So if I'm on step 7 and expect to stay on 7, I'm struggling?

Hmmm. Frustrated, perhaps. But I'm hardly struggling at 7.

I'm not struggling....just scared of how far this recession will go before it hits bottom and how fast it will happen.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So if I'm on step 7 and expect to stay on 7, I'm struggling?

Hmmm. Frustrated, perhaps. But I'm hardly struggling at 7.

I'm not struggling....just scared of how far this recession will go before it hits bottom and how fast it will happen.

The faster the better.

The economy will self correct. I'd rather it do it quick then drag it out over the rest of my 30s.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So if I'm on step 7 and expect to stay on 7, I'm struggling?

Hmmm. Frustrated, perhaps. But I'm hardly struggling at 7.

I'm not struggling....just scared of how far this recession will go before it hits bottom and how fast it will happen.

The faster the better.

The economy will self correct. I'd rather it do it quick then drag it out over the rest of my 30s.

If it happens quicker than we can implement a bailout, there's going to be a lot of Americans hurting.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

There will be hurt. That's the whole point of a contracting economy. If the intent is to eliminate the business cycle altogether and just have boom after boom after boom, well.... that ain't gonna happen. What expands must contract. Hurt is inevitable.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

There will be hurt. That's the whole point of a contracting economy. If the intent is to eliminate the business cycle altogether and just have boom after boom after boom, well.... that ain't gonna happen. What expands must contract. Hurt is inevitable.

I understand, but how hard and how fast the fall makes a huge difference.

[aidan80 9]

Well we're neither rich or poor and hardly struggling! We're not starving, freezing/sweating to death and have enough of everything we want right now.

Maybe it's me being an outsider but from what I noticed from those I've met that are or claim to be "struggling" is that once they get to say step 5 or 6 on the ladder even if they couldn't afford to be there anyway they will dig in and fight to stay there till the bitter end. I mean they'll work and pay the banks all their money, go without just to stay in that "class" when all they really need to do to get out of the hold they've dug themselves is take a few steps back downsize but no? They'll stay in their copy and paste house, drive their new cars and have all their gadgets but there only just handing in there by a few threads?

Is that normal over here or is that just some people. I've never seen the like of it before... then again I didn't exactly grow in the greatest part of the country back home!

[LaL 418]

Im struggling to unload this tumor that is my vacant FL home!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Im struggling to unload this tumor that is my vacant FL home!

I can imagine, Laura.

It's crazy in California because there are people buying homes...just more foreclosures than home buyers.

Well we're neither rich or poor and hardly struggling! We're not starving, freezing/sweating to death and have enough of everything we want right now.

Maybe it's me being an outsider but from what I noticed from those I've met that are or claim to be "struggling" is that once they get to say step 5 or 6 on the ladder even if they couldn't afford to be there anyway they will dig in and fight to stay there till the bitter end. I mean they'll work and pay the banks all their money, go without just to stay in that "class" when all they really need to do to get out of the hold they've dug themselves is take a few steps back downsize but no? They'll stay in their copy and paste house, drive their new cars and have all their gadgets but there only just handing in there by a few threads?

Is that normal over here or is that just some people. I've never seen the like of it before... then again I didn't exactly grow in the greatest part of the country back home!

Yep. There was a bit of the keeping up with the Jones' and that's coming back to bite a lot of people.

[doodlebugg 10]

do they let the respondents define what 'struggling' means or does the survey define it for them

http://www.gallup.com/poll/110125/Gallup-D...-WellBeing.aspx

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being measure asks Americans to evaluate their lives by imagining a "ladder" with steps numbered from 0 to 10, where "0" represents the worst possible life and "10" represents the best possible life. Americans in the "thriving" group say that they presently stand on step 7 or higher of the ladder and expect to stand on step 8 or higher five years from now. Americans in the "struggling" group say they presently stand on steps 0 to 4 of the ladder and expect to stand on steps 0 to 4 five years from now. Those who are neither "thriving" nor "suffering" are considered to be "struggling." Each result is based on a three-day rolling average.

But what is step 0 to an American? I compare it to a step 0 to an Egyptian and I'll take my American step 0 any day and twice on Sunday! Granted though there will be a definite "transition" depression but seriously it's not like we'll be living in the desert with a tent and have to hunt for a sheep (is sheep both plural and singular? ) to eat for supper.

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... it's not like we'll be living in the desert with a tent and have to hunt for a sheep (is sheep both plural and singular? ) to eat for supper.

Beats being vegetarian.