Gallup released another poll showing just how divided the nation remains on core values. When asked, “which values the country most needs today?,” Republicans ranked “patriotism” as number one while Democrats ranked “equality.” What is most alarming is that no shared value cracks fifty percent overall. Patriotism is only ranked in the top three shared values by 32 percent. (Freedom tops the list at only 38 percent).
Republicans rank patriotism as the most needed value today, while Democrats rank it lowest at just six percent.
Clearly, the results must be read in context. There are many values offered and ranking some lower does not mean that they have no or little value. It is a relative ranking of what the country most needed.
However, it shows (as found in other polls) how far the two parties are apart on their perspectives of the country at this moment in history.
Pretty much says it all. Dems hold fast to “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
I think we’re missing an important distinction here. Gallup asked what values Americans believe the country needs most, not what values they personally hold. Choosing equality over patriotism doesn’t mean someone isn’t patriotic.
But here’s what I found more interesting. Gallup also found that 79% of Americans believe respecting different values is more important than sharing the same values.
Now look at this comment section. If there’s nothing to fight about, somebody will find something.
Knowing a value, professing a value, and actually practicing it are three different things. We seem pretty good at the first two. It’s the third that ought to concern us, especially in a republic that depends on citizens capable of governing themselves.
Good lord, what a heap of psychobabble Olly.
Gallup asked what values Americans believe the country needs most and the people responding to the poll expressed their thoughts accordingly. So where’s the problem?
The poll confirms what is already obvious to regular observers: the country is deeply polarized, and hyper-partisanship is at an all-time high. A look at data from sources like the Pew Research Center reveals how far both major parties have drifted from the political center over the last few decades, fundamentally changing the American political landscape.
The traditional Republican party of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush has largely been replaced by populist, nationalist, and religious conservative factions. We see this rightward drift in the modern party’s embrace of strict “America First” isolationist trade policies, hardline immigration stances like border walls, and a heavy legislative focus on Christian nationalist values in public education and healthcare. For many on the right, “patriotism” has increasingly taken on a nationalist tone that critics argue feels exclusive rather than unifying.
Conversely, the Democratic party has shifted steadily to the progressive left. This leftward drift is evident in the mainstreaming of policies that were once considered fringe, such as sweeping student loan cancellation, universal healthcare concepts like “Medicare for All,” massive government intervention to fight climate change via the Green New Deal, and an intense institutional focus on identity politics and systemic equity. For the left, “equality” has become the dominant framework, focused on reshaping institutions to protect marginalized groups.
While both sides have their ideological extremes, the collapse of the political center means that compromise is virtually impossible. Because the goalposts have moved so far to the extremes, any moderate or opposing viewpoint is instantly viewed by the other side as an existential threat.
Republicans want to exclude and segregate. Democrats want to include and integrate. Which is weird because it’s exactly the opposite of what ‘Democrats’ in the 60’s were for which are today’s Republicans. All that needs to happen for compromise to become the norm once again is for Trump to leave office. He’s been the one figure who has embraced polarization more than anyone. The nation has been hostage to a narcissist for far too long.
Democratic equality. I want what you have without having to work for it.
Sounds just like capitalism: I can steal from you without repercussion.
Gee, “stealing” from someone is illegal. Voting for politicians to steal for you is called the basis of the Democrat party.
And the Republican party too. Ask Trump’s cronnies.
If that poll graphic is even close to accurate, how far down the road to losing the Republic — as Ben Franklin warned — are we?
But Franklin knew nothing of polling.
These choices appear to be carefully crafted to produce the desired result by appealing to known preferences. Honesty is a personal characteristic, but Freedom is not. Some view a country the same way as a person; some do not. This feeds the division rather than seeking to resolve it.
Are you saying there are unknown preferences? If so, what are they?
Can one can prefer honesty over dishonesty?
Then, freedom is not a personal preference? Then why are Americans fighting over restricted speech as opposed to unrestricted right i.e., freedom of speech.
No surprise here…
Yeah commies are never patriotic.
Should they be? Remember its a free country. No one forced you to be patriotic.