Medical professionals, military, police officers most esteemed, Gallup poll finds

NewsWorks Tonight host Dave Heller sits down for his weekly conversation with Gallup’s Frank Newport to talk about trends in U.S. opinion.

Here are this week’s topics.

During 2017,  just 27 percent of Americans were satisfied with the way things were going in the United States. This is well below average — and unusual — for a time when economic indicators are so positive.

Gallup’s annual review of the honesty and ethics of professions finds medical professionals are at the top of the list (nurses, doctors, pharmacists), along with military and police officers. Lobbyists, members of Congress, car sellers, and advertising practitioners are at the bottom.

Alabama is the most Republican of any of the Deep South states, although the percent identifying as Republican in Alabama is actually below that of seven Midwest states. That’s because of a large African-American population in Alabama who overwhelmingly are Democrats.

While efforts to pass a tax overhaul law intensify in Washington, D.C., only 2 percent of respondents say taxes are the most important problem facing the nation.

And as this year ends, the government itself remains the top concern for Americans, followed by the need to unify the country, race relations, and ethical and moral decline.

To hear the full conversation, listen to the audio above.