Recently, the Washington, D.C.-based Gallup released national research of what Americans are thinking on an array of 31 topics such as crime, military, abortion, and race relations.

The survey involved over 1,000 responses from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The research was conducted Jan. 2 to 15, prior to Donald Trump taking office.

Established in 1935 some of Gallup’s premier accounts include Southwest Airlines, Stryker Medical Services, and Estee Lauder cosmetics.

IN SUMMARY — THE RESULTS

Overall, American satisfaction tallied at 38%.

In years past, Americans’ satisfaction with national conditions routinely averaged above 40% in all prior years. The record high was at 54% in 2002.

In addition, the Gallup study noted in years past COVID and the Jan. 6 attack on a presidential transition offered impacts on overall satisfaction. Gallup added, Americans’ temporary rally behind the country occurred in the months directly after the 9/11 attacks.

The following, in part, are segments from Gallup’s research:

Majorities of Americans are generally satisfied with the nation’s military strength, their overall quality of life, the position of women, the opportunity for people to get ahead, and the acceptance of gay and lesbian people in the country.

Americans are closely split on three other issues, with about as many dissatisfied as satisfied: the influence of organized religion, the nation’s security from terrorism, and the position of people who are Black or from other racial minority groups.

Gallup added, Americans are more dissatisfied than satisfied with all other aspects such as health care, foreign affairs, immigration, the environment, guns, race relations, energy, crime, taxes, public education, abortion, and the economy.

Americans revealed the nation’s efforts to deal with poverty and homelessness, which, at 16%, garnered the lowest satisfaction rating.

Notably, more Americans are satisfied with the quality of U.S. medical care (45%) than with the availability of affordable healthcare (29%). They are also more satisfied with the effect technology is having on society (43%) than with the size and influence of major corporations (25%).

Gallup stated, “Majorities of Republicans are satisfied, while majorities of Democrats are dissatisfied, with seven areas: gun laws, the position of Black and other racial minority people, the position of women, the influence of organized religion, the quality of the environment, the opportunity for a person to get ahead through hard work and the acceptance of gay and lesbian people in the nation.”

Conversely, Gallup research reveals, “At least half of Democrats are satisfied, while about half or more of Republicans are dissatisfied, with six areas: the role the U.S. plays in world affairs, the nation’s military strength and preparedness, the nation’s security from terrorism, the state of the nation’s economy, the size and power of the federal government, and the level of immigration into the country today.”

Less than half of Republicans and Democrats are satisfied with 17 issues encompassing a number of domestic policy areas.

Gallup notes, “These include abortion policy, race relations, healthcare quality and affordability, the nation’s government system and how it works, public education, and energy policy, among others.”

Finally, Americans are significantly more satisfied today than in 2017 with the state of race relations and, relatedly, with the position of people who are Black or belong to other racial minority groups.

Should you care to review the entire research; visit www.gallup.com and surface the Feb. 5 “Americas’ State of the Nation Ratings Remain at Record Low.”

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the Secretary of the Navy. He grew up in Alpena and resides in suburban Detroit.