The Mood - Spring 2004

Wisconsin residents are optimistic about their futures and happy with the way things are going in their communities. At the same time, they are concerned about the direction the state is going. In their moods, young people 18 to 34 are different in many important respects than their older counterparts. While only 42% of people 35 and older think the state is on the right track, 61% of 18- to 34-year-olds think so. Almost two thirds of 18- to 34-year-olds (62%) believe things will get better for them in the next year, compared with 34% of people 35 and older who expect things for them to improve.
 

Are things in your community on the right track or off on the wrong track? The outlook of Wisconsin residents, typically upbeat, began to decline about three years ago, and has remained under 50% positive in all four Quality of Life surveys. Most recently, 45% of state residents say the state is on the right track. As in previous surveys, respondents think things closer to home are going better than in the state as a whole.
Are you optimistic things will get better or worse for you personally? Although respondents in the Quality of Life surveys are worried about the economy, jobs, and the costs of health care, they remain optimistic about their own futures. People 18 to 34 years old are especially confident. Sixty-two percent say that things for them will get better in the next year, compared with 34% of people 35 and older who think so.
How do you rate Wisconsin as a place to live and work? Overall, half of state residents describe Wisconsin as a special place to live, while 38% think it is about the same as other states. While they have a more positive outlook on many issues than their older counterparts, 18- to 34-year olds are less likely to see Wisconsin as a special place to live.