Americans’ pessimism about the economy has deepened and confidence in both political parties has fallen, as only 20 percent of people said the country is on the right course, Bloomberg reported.

Just 9 percent of people say they are confident the economy won’t slide back into recession, according to a Bloomberg National Poll. A majority of people say it will take at least six more years for home values in their community to recover to pre-recession levels.

The poll was conducted by Des Moines-based Selzer & Co. between Sept. 9 and
12.

Americans are sending mixed signals on the path forward. They embrace the need for tough measures to cut the federal deficit, including scaling back programs such as Social Security and increasing taxes on the wealthy, but they balk at many specific spending cuts.
 
A 51 percent majority says a special congressional committee considering how to reduce the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion should raise taxes on higher-income earners before curbing entitlements. Almost six of 10 say the panel must do one or the other to meet its deficit-cutting goal.

The poll results show that the public is running out of patience with political leaders. Seventy-two percent say the country is on the wrong track.