Poll Watch: We're Miserable.

According to a recent New York Times /CBS News poll, we’re miserable, and it’s not the weather that’s got us down.  Americans are more pessimistic than we’ve been practically since the beginning of the Obama administration, and that pessimism is widespread. Here's a sampling:

• 75% disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job
• 70% think we’re heading in the wrong direction
• 57% disapprove of how President Obama is handling the economy  
• 56% don’t have a favorable opinion of Republicans  
• 55% have an unfavorable opinion of Sarah Palin
• 49% don’t have a favorable opinion of Democrats  
• 45% negative approval rating for Obama  
• 45% don’t approve of how Libya is being handled
• 41% disapprove of John Boehner’s performance  
• 29% think that cutting the deficit would cost us jobs

Young people aren’t immune from the malaise either. In a survey of 18 to 24 year olds conducted in February and March, the Associated Press found that:

• 75% thought the economy was poor
• 42% didn’t have a job
• 55% of those who did have a job thought it was just something to get them by, not a career

In addition, the majority of those surveyed believe it will be harder for them to buy a house, raise a family, make enough money to support the lifestyle they want, and save for retirement than it was for their parents.

Finally, in a recent Fox News poll, here’s more misery:

• 60% feel they’re getting a bad deal for their tax dollars 
• 49% feel their tax dollars are spent less carefully than in the past 
• 43% think they’re paying more than their fair share in taxes

So tell me: anyone got any good ideas for getting us out of this funk?  Clearly, the same-old, same-old fight and stall tactics we're used to aren't working. Where's the next great idea coming from?