Optimistic in America

In general, Americans are remarkably optimistic. It's consistent with what de Tocqueville found when he came here 200 years ago, but to be honest, we're not sure what to make of it. Link. Excerpts:

A landmark study released yesterday from a New Jersey medical school finds that the majority of us are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future, even if catastrophe looms on the horizon.

A sampling: 82 percent of Americans ages 18 to 24 feel optimistic about their futures; 82 percent of those ages 25 to 44 do so as well; and 75 percent of those ages 45 to 64 and 64 percent of those 65 or older agree. Only 15 percent to 22 percent of the respondents say they have grown more pessimistic over the past five years.

Respondents who deem religious faith "very important to them were much more optimistic about their own and the world's future compared to those who listed religion as unimportant," the study states.