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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Since You Asked: Following the nickel trail Woman struck by car while running from police Health Fair planned for Saturday at armory Arrest made in Klamath Falls murder Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Woman struck by car while running from police Arrest made in Klamath Falls murder Police recover stolen trailer, arrest suspect Suspected heroin dealers arrested near Crater High School Politics and Elections Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post Education Talent Elementary students learn to tinker Local elementary and middle school students qualify for state chess championships Unfair labor complaint against Medford School District resolved Arsonist attempts to burn down building at Jackson Elementary Not as ready as they should be Environment Bear cub headed to rehabbers in Idaho Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon OR-7 now officially the leader of his pack Ashland trails up for changes State News Mom says bills carries on daughter's legacy Records illegally released; 2 on leave Lawmaker: Pot candy OD shows need to go slowly Tests: Formaldehyde risk in some e-cigarette vapor State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased Nation - World Obituaries Mamie E. 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Woman struck by car while running from police ... Council OKs raises for department heads ... Our View: Public salaries move only upward ... Woman struck by car while running from police ... Council OKs raises for department heads ... Nation on wrong track? Some here agree Poll shows majority of Americans unhappy with country's direction The majority of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, according to a recently released national poll, and some local residents couldn't agree more. Comment By John Darling MailTribune.com By John Darling Posted Apr. 8, 2008 @ 12:01 am By John Darling Posted Apr. 8, 2008 @ 12:01 am » Social News The majority of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, according to a recently released national poll, and some local residents couldn't agree more. "The problem predates Iraq," said Faye Weisler, an Ashland lawyer who works in Medford, while taking a lunch break Monday outside Mellelo Coffee Roasters. "It's the social policies, the Supreme Court appointees, the health care, the money for the military, people shopping instead of investing in society." A New York Times/CBS News poll asked 1,368 adults throughout the U.S. the question, "Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?" The survey, which has been conducted annually since the early 1990s, found Americans are more dissatisfied with the country's direction than ever before: 81 percent of respondents said they believed "things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track." Last year, the poll found 69 percent of respondents were dissatisfied; in 2002, after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks but before the start of the Iraq war, the percentage was 35. This year's telephone survey was conducted March 28 through April 2 and results were released Friday. Weisler said she believes the division between those wanting to change society and those wanting to support "the status quo and the administration" helps contribute to Americans' dissatisfaction. "The lives lost in Iraq and the damage done to this country, emotionally and financially, are tremendous — and what we've done to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan," Weisler added. "I hope we get someone as president that can utilize the uprising of energy, the tremendous capacity of this country to come up with creative ideas and to unite us." The New York Times/CBS News poll is intentionally unspecific about parties or policies. It instead tries to nail down the mood and level of confidence of the American people. The record-high dissatisfaction it found crossed all boundaries of party, gender, age and education, The New York Times reported. Environmental chemist Therese Kirkpatrick of Medford, just out of college and newly employed, agreed with the "off track" statement, saying she felt the promises of four years ago — getting an Iraq government set up and bringing American soldiers home — have gone unfulfilled. "I feel we're on the brink of having something new happening," she said. "I'm not enthralled with anyone who's running for president but it seems we're waiting for the election and it seems something will happen." Megan Kimmelshue of Medford, a volunteer coordinator with Habitat for Humanity and 2002 graduate of South Medford High School, agreed with the "wrong track" statement, but laid the problem squarely at the feet of citizens, not politicians. "I get to see the positive side of things on a daily basis — people volunteering to come out and build homes for families in need — and if people would give back, things would improve drastically. We're too busy to care," said Kimmelshue. "People have gone so long without paying attention and only now are they feeling the repercussions of not caring and not holding politicians to a higher standard." Medford landscaper and veteran John McClendon agreed with the "wrong track" view, noting it goes back to the Iraq war, which triggered this country's economic woes. "The economy is bad and going downhill. About my sense of hope for the future, I'd say I'm a 5 on a 10-scale, about neutral," McClendon said. Counting himself in the "wrong track" group, Medford attorney David Beal cited tension around immigrants that was not present 10 years ago, polarization of the citizenry, disrespect for America abroad and politicians not trying to bring people together. Kim Butler, who lost her apartment, job and vehicle and is now living in the Gospel Mission, said her "wrong track" vote goes back to "gas prices, we're still in a war and people are losing their homes right and left." She added, "It's hard to afford a car, there are not very good jobs out there, there's a lot of homeless people and if your credit gets bad, you're down the tubes. "It was a lot more positive five or 10 years ago, for sure. People could afford gas. I had a car back then. Utilities were more affordable." Sara Halsey, mother of two small children in Medford, said it's a "scary" time because of the war and because of the U.S. borrowing large sums from other countries. "We keep spending and spending. We have a spending problem and eventually they won't lend to us — and we're over there fighting a war. It builds resentment," Halsey said. "They will get tired of us being there and they have control over our economy." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. By John Darling MailTribune.com By John Darling Posted Apr. 8, 2008 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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