Bob CollinsA Pew Research survey reignites an old debate — at least for me: Are we more glum about the future because the future is more bleak than it was in the Depression? Or are we more glum about the future because we are connected to more information that tells us we should be glum about the future?
During the Depression, the Pew survey says, only 29% thought business conditions would get worse. Fifty percent figured things would get better.
Compare that to an October 2010 survey. Only 35% expect things to get better by this October.
Even in the Reagan recession — when unemployment peaked at 11% — Americans were more hopeful than they are today.
