The poll depicts a public eager to find meaning and connection in the aftermath of September 11. About half of all Americans intend to spend more time with friends and family, more than a quarter plan to give more personal or meaningful gifts, and nearly one in five plan to purchase fewer or less expensive gifts.

The 2001 holiday season was already shaping up as a showdown between those trying to resist the pull of holiday consumerism and those encouraging Americans to ramp up their consumption to ward off a looming recession (which as we know, happened anyway). And the economic impact of the September 11 attacks brought that conflict into much sharper relief.

According to the poll, Americans are extremely wary of the strong pressures being exerted on them to use the holidays to prop up the economy. Despite highly public forays into malls and stores by a host of politicians, only 8% of Americans think we should use this holiday season to stimulate the economy, while a whopping 85% think we should instead focus on friends, family and meaning.

Nevertheless, Betsy Taylor, executive director of the Center for a New American Dream, fears what she calls an "incessant drumbeat from Madison Avenue" around holiday over consuming. "The really unfortunate thing is that if Americans follow their hearts this year and focus on family and meaning instead of work, stress and shopping, many people will call the holiday season a failure," she said.

The poll also reveals a deep ambivalence about holiday debt. 70% of Americans say they want to help the economy, but are worried about overspending or going into debt. Even in the best of economic times, high consumer debt has been a growing problem. In 1999, at the height of the economic boom, the average American family who carried a balance on their credit cards owed more than $7,500, and spent over $1,000 in interest and penalties, according to the Consumer Federation of America. In 2001, for the sixth year in a row, more Americans will declare bankruptcy than graduate from college, according to estimated statistics from the Department of Education and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. And that's a really sad commentary.

This is shaping up to be a very challenging time for Americans, both financially and spiritually. The good news is that we have a rare opportunity to make truly deep and lasting connections. So this holiday season, let's focus on what truly counts.

The Center for a New American Dream has some great ways to simplify your holidays. You can download a free Simplify the Holidays brochure, send holiday e-cards and get plenty of ideas and resources for gift-giving without consuming needlessly or breaking the bank. You'll find it all at www.newdream.org/holiday/home.html

Poll Highlights*

The Public Looks Deeper
* 63% plan to make this holiday season more meaningful than ever as a result of September 11.

Americans Unmoved by Patriotic Spending Messages
* 70% want to help the economy, but are concerned about spending too much or going into debt.

* Only 8% think we should use this holiday season as an opportunity to stimulate the economy.

* 85% think we should use this holiday season to focus on friends, family and meaning.

September 11 Helps People Focus on Family, Meaningful Gifts
* 49% plan to spend more time with friends and family as a result of September 11.

* 26% plan to give more personal or meaningful gifts.

* 21% plan to buy fewer or less expensive gifts.

* 21% intend to get more involved with their faith community.

* 19% are planning to reduce their credit card use.

* Only 3% plan to buy more or more expensive gifts.

* National Poll Commissioned by the Center for a New American Dream and conducted from November 9-12, 2001 by Opinion Research Corporation International. The survey was administered by phone to 1039 adults nationwide. Findings from the survey have a margin of error of +/- 3% with a 95% level of confidence.

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