If we hated the Noughties so much ... Is there hope in our new decade?

If the previous decade was the worst in 50 years, will the new decade be any better?

We entered the new decade in a state of economic turmoil, but the ten-year span has just started. It could take any trajectory. Our question, today, is: Will the 2010s be any better than the Noughties—considered by many to be the worst decade in 50 years?

The majority of Americans (59%) say the 2010s will be better, according to the Pew Research Center. This optimism is shared across most demographic groups and political divisions.

But there is a strong dissenting opinion. Over 30% of Americans say the 2010s will be worse than the ‘00s.

Republicans are much more negative about the future than are Democrats. Over 40% of members of the GOP have a dim view of the 2010s, compared with only 20% of Democrats.

Many Baby Boomers (42%) think the 2010s will be worse than the decade we just left behind. Americans who are older—or younger—than the Boomers are much more optimistic about the future.

And, the majority of white evangelicals (52%) make gloomy predictions about the new decade. Fewer than 30% of white mainline Protestants, Catholics, or the religiously unaffiliated are sour on the future.

Putting all this together, it seems that white evangelical Republican Baby Boomers are the most likely to dread the decade before us.

How about you? Compared to the ‘00s, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the decade ahead?