How confident are you about our economic future? A survey from the polling firm Gallup finds the answer may have more to do with politics than economics.

As you look back at 2012, who did you most admire? Was it an Olympian? A musician? A business leader?

This election, in part driven by the discrepancy between most media analysis and Nate Silver's data-driven electoral model, has prompted a debate about polling in the new media landscape. Frank Newport, of Gallup, says his polling still works but could be tweaked.

Every bit of public data -- housing, employment, consumer spending -- changes how voters feel about the state of the nation -- and about their own well-being.