The Evolution of Public Sentiment

Public sentiment shifted significantly from the optimism of the late 1990s and early 2000s to a climate of resentment today. In 2000, a booming economy and low unemployment led many to feel hopeful about the future, with people taking prosperity for granted. However, events such as the Iraq War and the 2008 financial crisis caused widespread disillusionment, as the public discovered that elites in power didn't possess the foresight or honesty they had assumed. This decline of trust in government and financial institutions has contributed to the pervasive anger and skepticism seen in society today.