The news - particularly the economic news - is just plain dreadful. When that happens, optimism turns down and even those who can afford to spend money simply stop. That leads to pessimism. Pessimism is contagious.
So is optimism.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/11/11/politics/horserace/entry4591579.shtmlCBS News has a poll they'll be releasing tonight that shows that optimism has begun to break out across the country.
From the online article's opeing paragraphs:
Whether they voted for him or not, Americans are optimistic about the next four years with Barack Obama as president, according to a new CBS News poll. Seventy-one percent of all Americans say they are optimistic about the next four years, including nearly half (48 percent) of all those who voted for John McCain. Just 17 percent of all Americans are pessimistic, including 40 percent of McCain voters.
Eighty-three percent of African-Americans are optimistic and 88 percent of Americans under the age of 30 are as well. While 88 percent of Democrats say they are optimistic, so do 51 percent of Republicans.