WASHINGTON: As the US gears up to celebrate Fourth of July, a new Gallup poll indicates a significant decline in the number of Americans who are satisfied with their freedom to choose what they do with their lives.
The number of Americans who reported they were satisfied with their freedom has dropped 12 points in less than a decade, from 91 percent in 2006 to 79 percent in 2013, the findings showed.
Also, the number of Americans who reported they were dissatisfied with their level of freedom more than doubled since 2006, up from nine percent to 21 percent.
According to the poll, confidence in the US economy is still lacking, years after the recession began, and Americans consistently rank the economy as one of the country's biggest problems.
The Gallup poll also pointed towards the poor confidence in the government as another possible reason that feelings of freedom have declined.
In the US, 79 percent believe government corruption is a serious problem, up 20 percent from 2006.
Gallup also reported that confidence in the Supreme Court and Congress hit record lows this year, and that confidence in the presidency hit a six-year low.
However, spending habits have almost completely recovered since the 2008 economic downturn.
Job creation is also on the rise, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.