Posted on 07/07/2023 8:37:18 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Patriotism in America continues to hover near record lows, according to Gallup’s most recent survey. While this may not be a five-alarm fire for those of us who truly love this country – after all, roughly two-thirds of Americans responded that they were either “extremely” or “very” proud to be Americans – it is certainly a cause for concern that should be addressed. As we celebrate the birth of this great country, it is worth examining potential reasons pride in America is on the decline and rehashing why America is a nation worth loving in the first place.
Only 39% of Americans described themselves as “extremely” proud to be an American – but this statistic doesn’t tell the whole story. The partisan breakdown is fairly staggering, as only 29% of Democrats and 33% of Independents describe themselves as extremely proud, whereas 60% of Republicans said they are extremely proud.
While there are certainly many people in the Democratic Party who do love America and its founding values, many figures on the more progressive wing of the party have come to repudiate them. Extreme pride in America has declined slightly for Republicans, but not nearly to the extent that it has for those who identify further leftward.
Further, there is a major discrepancy in reported patriotism by age: 50% of those 55 and older report they are extremely proud, compared to only 18% of 18- to 34-year-olds. This could be because civics scores are declining, and more American professors and universities seem to believe America is a terrible place.
Dwindling patriotism in America could be due to the increase of Americans sadly believing we are a country in decline. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Although it is fair to say America may be on the wrong track in certain respects, America has the 11th highest GDP per capita, according to the World Bank. Our system of government has been a model for countries across the world. The American flag remains a symbol of freedom and justice for those living in oppressed places like Hong Kong.
America was built on the idea that we are all created equal. While there undoubtedly have been instances where America has fallen short of this idea – from slavery to Jim Crow to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II – the greatness of America lies in the fact that we have overcome these deficiencies and made good on the promises of the words etched in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
America, like any country, certainly faces many challenges, such as inflation and rising crime rates. But if we remain true to the ideals and principles that made us the country we are today, I have no doubt in my mind that we can overcome them.
The United States is the greatest country in the world due to the underlying principles of freedom and equality that have led to its success. A country that fails to recognize the pillars that have propelled it to success is destined to abandon them. In order to preserve and extend the success this country has had in the past, we cannot become complacent. We must continue to teach the core values that have made America such a special country, or we may face the decline the American people are fearing.
I’m a Gallup responder myself. I’m extremely proud to be an American with this proviso: the America I once knew, the one I’m proud of, is gone.
But the Americans I’m proud to be among— are still here, for a while longer. And I intend to make the most of THAT.
Only 39% of Americans described themselves as “extremely” proud to be an American – but this statistic doesn’t tell the whole story. The partisan breakdown is fairly staggering, as only 29% of Democrats and 33% of Independents describe themselves as extremely proud, whereas 60% of Republicans said they are extremely proud.
Democrats are not proud to be American, because as liberals, they are pissed off about, take your pick, racism, sexism, the Supreme Court, Trump, homophobia, global warming, and how oppressed people allegedly are.
A big number of Republicans are not proud, but for different reasons. As conservatives, they are not proud of the changes in America in recent decades, and are not happy with how America has changed.
Both liberals and conservatives see big numbers of their groups not proud of America, but for different reasons.
Why dont they just as “Proud or not proud”?
Extremely proud? Why don’t they ask the question a different way?
Would you prefer to be a citizen of any other country?
If so, what country?
Proud of the country or proud of the government? Easy to conflate the two, depending on how the question is asked.
How ironic that we just went through a whole month of “Pride” having absolutely nothing to do with patriotism or any other virtue.
Only 42% of the people left in this country are Americans, so that’s not a bad number
You are exactly correct. I am proud of my flag. I abhor what that flag repesents today. I will fight to return what that flag once represented.
My pride is for a nation Under God…ok, we’re done.
There are ever fewer because over time fewer can recognize that property must first be sourced internally in personal self-protection, opinion, religion, communications, use of abilities to labor physically and mentally, and in conscience. Only through secure exercise of those intangible liberties can one acquire the traditional manifestations of property.
For an ever-increasing number, the American Dream has become government providing laws to ensure college funds, retirement accounts, savings, affordable health care, home ownership, lifetime employment, corporate wealth, political careers, and union benefits.
We have the greatest country that the world has ever seen. The current government representing us really sucks.
I love my country.
I hate the uniparty globalist socialists at every level of government with every fiber of my being.
Libs are turning the place into a third world
Yep
Not that I focused on three successive individuals in a row or anything like that.......not that there’s anything wrong with that....
I find this sort of poll rather odd, people who are totally opposed to what the country is currently doing say they are extremely proud, and people who support what the country is doing say they are not. Does that make any sense?
People are seeing through the question and answering a different question, I believe. That actual question being answered would be, in theory, could you be a patriotic American proud of a strong and free America? (not that there is any chance of having such a country under present circumstances).
But if liberals cannot say yes we are proud of this country as it currently exists, then why do they support these policies? That part makes no sense to me, not that I would support those policies myself.
How can you be proud of what the neocons and globalists have done in our name the last 20 years. Domestically, I am a stranger in a strange land. We can’t even send my grankids to public school any longer. I’m certainly not proud and have no recourse since representative democracy is also dead in this country.
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