According to a new poll, the majority of Americans believe that 2012 will be a good year.

Associated Press-GfK asked 1000 adults if they were optimistic or pessimistic about what 2012 had in store for both their family and for the United States.  Seventy-eight percent answered that they were optimistic for their family, and 62 percent said they were optimistic for the nation.

The respondents were also asked to rate 2011. Sixty-eight percent classified it as a "bad year," suggesting that part of the reason folks are so optimistic about 2012 is that 2011 set a very low bar.

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