Survey shows that 87 percent of Americans believe in the 'Land of Opportunity' but concerns are rising about the prospects available to future generations, the labor market and the high cost of education

WASHINGTON, July 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) and National Journal announced the results of the second Heartland Monitor poll, a groundbreaking series of surveys conducted by FD that gauges how every day Americans are navigating through the economic downturn, and what role they expect government and business to play in helping them do so. This installment in the series asked survey respondents about the state of opportunity in America.

Presenting the survey's findings at National Journal Group's headquarters at The Watergate in Washington, D.C., were Thomas J. Wilson, chairman, president and CEO of Allstate; Ronald Brownstein, political director of Atlantic Media Company; and Edward J. Reilly, CEO of FD Americas.

Explaining his company's role in supporting the Heartland Monitor Thomas J. Wilson, chairman, president and CEO of Allstate commented, "We believe that the dialogue we are engaged in through this series of public surveys will help to focus the attention of government and the private sector alike on the economic concerns of every day Americans."

Commenting further on the findings of the Heartland Monitor, Wilson said, "What we know is that the current economic crisis has been a game-changer with Americans of all walks of life altering their view of our economic reality, and adjusting their expectations and goals accordingly. They are re-evaluating their own skills and the education they need to compete in the global marketplace, as well as questioning the effectiveness of government to create economic opportunities for them. However, Americans still believe in America. They have not wavered from the fundamental belief that America is the land of opportunity for anyone willing to work hard."

While the survey found that 87 percent believe that America is the "Land of Opportunity," it also uncovered anxieties about the future, with a plurality saying they expect today's children to have fewer opportunities upon reaching adulthood. More positively, more than two-thirds (67%) of Americans are confident they will get ahead financially within the next five years, and more than half (54%) believe their own skills -- not the state of the economy -- will be the key to doing so.

With respect to government, many respondents said the Obama administration's actions increase opportunities to get ahead, but 52 percent said government as a whole creates more obstacles.