The FINANCIAL — New York, N.Y. — This year’s midterm elections brought a bitterly fought campaign across many states. Soon after these elections, The Harris Poll revisited a long-term trend looking at how alienated Americans feel. The results were far from promising. Americans feel more alienated than ever, as reflected in the latest Harris Poll Alienation Index, which began in 1966; the level of alienation among U.S. adults has increased 3 points since last year and 17 points since 2009, President Obama’s first year in office, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Almost every year since 1966, the Harris Poll has measured how alienated Americans feel and then calculated the Harris Alienation Index based on the results. The questions measure how much, or how little, people feel their interests are heard and addressed by people with power and influence. This year the Harris Poll Alienation Index is at 70, compared to 67 in 2013, 63 in 2011, 52 in 2010 and 53 in 2009. The Alienation Index has never before reached the 70s.
The Index is based on replies to five questions, which show some interesting differences, and also some similarities, to past years’ data.
- 85% believe that the people running the country don’t really care what happens to you, equivalent to last year and up from 73% in 2011;
- 81% of all adults believe the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, compared to 80% in 2013 and 73% in 2011;
- 71% believe that most people in power try to take advantage of people like you compared to 69% last year and 63% in 2011;
- 68% believe that what you think doesn’t count very much anymore, up from 61% last year and 66% in 2011; and
- 42% believe that they are left out of things going on around them, compared to 38% in 2013 and 41% in 2011.
Furthermore, nearly nine in ten Americans (89%) feel that the people in Washington, D.C. are out of touch with the rest of the country, compared to 90% last year and 87% in 2011. However, this question is not used in the calculation of the Alienation Index because it was not asked before 1992.
Who’s the most alienated of them all?
Some interesting differences exist between different demographic groups when considering just how alienated they feel. Those with a high school education or less feel more alienated than those with a college degree or a post-grad education. Perhaps speaking to a disappointment with the midterm election results, Democrats feel more alienated than Republicans, with Independents feeling more alienated than both parties. Additionally, those with a household income under $35,000 per year feel more alienated than individuals at all other household income levels, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Interestingly, no significant differences exist between different generations and their level of alienation. The same is true for men vs. women.
Discussion about this post