– White America's angry. I'm John Phillips and this is Poll Position. (engine starts) (guitar music)

A new NBC news Esquire poll finds that Americans are angrier than ever, especially, white people. And especially especially Republicans. And especially especially especially, the middle class. Is it true? If so, why? Why are we so mad? Let's take a look at the question. They asked about how often you hear or read something in the news that makes you angry? Six percent said rarely, five percent said once a month, 20% said once a week, 37% said once a day. And 31% said they were angered by the news multiple times each day. Of the largest group, those enraged by the news once per day, they broke it down by race. African Americans were the least likely to be angry at 56%. Hispanics were next at 66%. But white folks were white hot with rage at 73%. It's important to note that these numbers maybe influenced by how often each demographic actually pays attention to the news. Moving on, the political party. Democrats were less angry than Republicans, 67% to 77%.

So, what gives? Well, it might be about money. First off, the middle class was much madder than either the poor or the wealthy. Another telling question the survey asks was whether people still believe in the American dream? 36% said the idea that hard work pays off still holds true, but a majority, 52%, said it once held true but doesn't anymore. A smaller proportion, 11%, said it never held true. Respondents were also unhappy with where they are financially. Well, 22% said they're better off than they expected to be when they were younger. And, 23% said they were about where they expected to be. A whopping 54% said they were worse off than they thought they would be. So, what does all this mean? Could it be that whites, the middle class, and Republicans are actually angry because they're relentlessly villified as the bad guys, while they're income is being strip mined for the benefit of others, and their jobs are being outsourced to foreign countries or insourced to cheaper guest workers. Could it be that righteous anger over a decline in freedom and opportunity is a rational reaction and a positive force for political change? But I have my own theory as to why whites are angry, Republicans are angry, and middle class are angry. I'm a guy who considers himself to be pretty conservative. I didn't vote for Obama either time, and I've been angry at all of his policy initiatives ever since he put his hand on the Bible. Every time that man shows up on television, I seethe with rage, because I know he's going to try to do something that is anti-constitutional, that I'm not going to like, that's going to result in me spending more money or giving more money to Washington D.C. I, sometimes, have to take a break from watching the news. Sometimes, I'm healthier when I watch Sports Center in the morning and Sports Center at night as opposed to watching a news program because I know I'm going to start my day off angry or end my day angry. And the reason is because of the President. I would love to see the results of this poll if you did it back in 2004, or 2003, or 2005, when George W. Bush was in the White House and Democrats were all frothing at the mouth. My democratic friends that I remember were all being like Old Yeller in the last scene, right after her got rabies. I think the numbers would be inversed if you took the poll back then. One man's opinion. That's the position of the polls, but now it's time to make your opinion known. I'm going to ask a very simple question here. Why are you angry? I told you why I'm angry, tell me why you're angry. Tell us in the comment section below. I'm John Phillips for Poll Position. Thanks so much for watching. (engine starts) (guitar music)