WASHINGTON, May 20: A majority of American voters believes that the United States is heading in the wrong direction and that their government and lawmakers are not giving enough attention to their day-to-day problems. The latest survey by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News shows that 52 per cent of American voters believe their nation is headed in the wrong direction, while 35 per cent think it is on the right track. The others are undecided.

The poll also shows a growing dissatisfaction with the occupation of Iraq, reported by previous surveys as well. As many as 51 per cent of the respondents to the latest survey believe that removing Saddam Hussein from power was not worth the cost and casualties. The poll finds that the American public is dissatisfied — with Congress and its priorities, with President Bush’s plan to overhaul social security and with the economy and the general direction.

A majority also believes that the Senate should make its own decision about the president’s judicial nominees, rather than just generally confirming them.

While the ruling Republican Party is blamed for most of the wrongs, the public does not seem too happy with the Democrats either. “It is just a sense of unhappiness with where we’re at,” said Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff.

Perhaps the most revealing finding in the poll is the attitude toward Congress. Just 33 per cent of the respondents approve of the body’s job. “The public is exceptionally displeased with the Congress,” Mr Hart said. Mr McInturff, the Republican pollster, points out that Americans are upset with Congress focusing on the battle over judges, Social Security, trying to restore Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube and the ethical troubles surrounding their members, including, instead of focusing on the economy, gas prices and health care.

The survey also has some troubling findings for President Bush. Just 20 per cent of those polled say the economy has improved over the past 12 months, an 11-point decline since January and only 36 per cent support Mr Bush’s plan to allow workers to invest their social security contributions in the stock market.

That social security figure, which is virtually unchanged from April, is significant because it suggests that Mr Bush has not moved the country any closer to supporting private accounts despite his months-long campaign for them. All of these findings, Mr Hart says, are signs of an angry electorate.