The Consumer Sentiment Index has tracked how Americans experience the U.S. economy through bouts of runaway inflation, a mortgage crisis, stock market bubbles, and six recessions. And yet the scores right now are lower than at any of those moments. After nearly 50 years of tracking by the University of Michigan, Consumer Sentiment has broken through the basement. Beneath the five index questions are some clues as to why: Since 2008, the number of people who say the government is doing a poor job has grown from about a third to about three-quarters. This dissatisfaction has been a slow burn — and it’s also evidence that Americans are ready for bold, non-incremental economic change.We’re making Thanksgiving plans. Got a dinner table debate we can help with? Send it to [email protected] (and put Thanksgiving in the subject line).Donate to Optimist Economy, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit: https://optimisteconomy.comAll the swearing is on the Optimist Economy YouTube channel⁠⁠. We’re also on Instagram at ⁠⁠@optimist_economy or TikTok at ⁠⁠@optimist_economy. And Facebook, but you’ll just have to search for that. Chat with other Optimists on Substack.Optimist hats are back in stock at the merch store: https://merch.ambientinks.com/collections/optimisteconomy