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Fewer Americans say democracy is central to country’s identity, AP-NORC poll finds
Associated Press ^ | 10:12 AM EDT, June 8, 2026 | Gary Fields Linley Sanders and Nicholas Riccardi

Posted on 06/08/2026 7:17:21 PM PDT by Olog-hai

As the U.S. prepares for an extravagant celebration of its founding principles, fewer Americans see their country as exceptional, a new poll finds.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research highlights many Americans’ feeling of unease over the future of its representative government — particularly among young people. It presents a jarring contrast as communities around the country commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Only about one-quarter of Americans say the U.S. stands above all other countries in the world, the new poll found, while 44% say it’s one of the greatest countries in the world, along with some others. About 3 in 10 say there are better countries than the U.S., an increase from 19% in an AP-NORC poll conducted in June 2016.

Americans remain divided about whether diversity is an essential feature of the U.S.'s identity, and agreement about other aspects of the country’s underlying character appears to be eroding, the survey found. Americans are less likely to see a democratically elected government as “extremely” or “very” important to the United States’ identity as a nation than they were just a few years ago. About two-thirds of U.S. adults now say a democratically elected government is highly important to the U.S.’s identity as a nation, down from 80% in 2021.

“It’s not that the democracy part is not working,” said Derricka Wall, 24, of Chickasaw, Alabama. “It’s the people that are actually being put in office that is the problem.” […]

Fewer, too, see democracy as a key element of the U.S.’s identity. Only about half of Americans under 30 believe this, compared with 81% of those 60 and older. …

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: constitutional; republic

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AP not defining their terms again, not to mention using a misleading headline.
1 posted on 06/08/2026 7:17:22 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

... a REPUBLICAN form of government ...


2 posted on 06/08/2026 7:18:54 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Olog-hai

Without proper education the country is becoming what the nationalized and unionized teaching left, is educating it to be.


3 posted on 06/08/2026 7:21:33 PM PDT by ansel12
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To: NorthMountain
A democracy is a political system in which the people periodically, by majority vote at the polls, select their rulers. The rulers then have absolute power to make whatever laws they please, by majority vote among themselves.

In a constitutional Republic, the people also, by majority vote at the polls, select rulers, who make laws by majority vote among themselves; but the rulers cannot make any laws they please because the Constitution severely restricts their lawmaking power.

The ideal of a democracy is universal equality. The ideal of a constitutional Republic is individual liberty.

In this century, great strides have been made toward the goal of subverting our Republic and transforming it into a democracy. One tactic of the subverters is subversion of language. By calling the United States a democracy until people thoughtlessly accept and use the term, totalitarians have obscured the real meaning of our principles of government.

Dan Smoot Report, 1966
Don’t expect AP to tell the truth about constitutional republicanism versus democracy. Never mind Woodrow Wilson calling socialism and democracy “one and the same”.
4 posted on 06/08/2026 7:24:19 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: Olog-hai

https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/June-2016-Omnibus_Topline_FULL.pdf

Dem-36%
Rep-21%
ind-27%
NOTA-15%


5 posted on 06/08/2026 7:26:49 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: NorthMountain

Pretty sure that won’t like the alternative.


6 posted on 06/08/2026 7:31:19 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? On hold! Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🚫💉! 🇮🇱🙏! Winning currently!)
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To: Olog-hai

This is the attitude most are being exposed to year after public school year, and with very little opposition or challenge allowed.


7 posted on 06/08/2026 7:32:01 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: lee martell
Only about one-quarter of Americans say the U.S. stands above all other countries in the world, the new poll found

That probably has more to do with only about one-quarter of those polled being Republicans.

8 posted on 06/08/2026 7:38:45 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: lee martell

21% to be precise.


9 posted on 06/08/2026 7:39:15 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: Olog-hai

What does that even mean?

A nonsense question gets nonsense answers.

It’s not rocket science.


10 posted on 06/08/2026 7:39:15 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (If it ain't fun, you ain't doin' it right.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Yes; that’s exactly what AP-NORC was soliciting. GIGO.


11 posted on 06/08/2026 7:40:40 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: Olog-hai
About 3 in 10 say there are better countries than the U.S., "

Good...
List their names, strip them of citizenship, strip them of all their possessions, and ship them to Mogadishu, immediately...

12 posted on 06/08/2026 7:44:20 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is rabble-rising Sam Adams now that we need him? Is his name Trump, now?)
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To: Olog-hai

“About 3 in 10 say there are better countries than the U.S., an increase from 19% in an AP-NORC poll conducted in June 2016.” Fine, move there.


13 posted on 06/08/2026 7:51:57 PM PDT by kawhill (Dywedwch Wrthbym because + Add translation Welsh-English dictionary 'Tell Us')
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To: ansel12
Without proper education the country is becoming what the nationalized and unionized teaching left, is educating it to be.

Bingo.

The shame is that, with the exception of home-schooling and private schools, both parents and those elected to represent us in the government are sleeping through the entire program.

Then they send what may be the most promising of the children off to expensive universities that are shot through with liberal faculties.

14 posted on 06/08/2026 7:57:17 PM PDT by frog in a pot (Are they already inside the wire? See open borders and not paying TSA payroll during war.)
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To: Olog-hai
"Don't say I didn't warn you"


15 posted on 06/08/2026 8:18:32 PM PDT by montag813
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To: Olog-hai

Fake poll by fake media.


16 posted on 06/08/2026 8:30:30 PM PDT by bray (Thank God for Israel)
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To: Olog-hai


17 posted on 06/08/2026 9:10:07 PM PDT by MacNaughton
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To: ansel12

It’s called “brain washing” or indoctrination. Teaching the truth to our children will undermine their goal of ushering in a communist regime to rule this country. Truth is their enemy.


18 posted on 06/08/2026 9:14:35 PM PDT by drypowder
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To: Olog-hai

What dew u no.

We’re living in Ancient Grease.


19 posted on 06/08/2026 9:18:24 PM PDT by Varsity Flight ( "War by 🙏 the prophesies set before you." ) I Timothy 1:18. Nazarite warriors. 10.5.6.5 These Days)
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To: NorthMountain
... a REPUBLICAN form of government ...

I actually get tired of people saying that. Did you read the article?

The writer is correct, we have a representative form of government, with our reps democratically elected.

20 posted on 06/08/2026 10:00:13 PM PDT by jimtorr
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