However, a plurality believe we are less worthy than in the past.
An exclusive poll from America’s New Majority Project asked Americans if they feel the United States is still worthy of the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women of the Armed Forces who lost their lives defending our country.
WHY IT MATTERS – On Monday, Americans will observe Memorial Day, a holiday to acknowledge the sacrifices made by those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives defending our country.
- Measuring whether Americans believe their country is worthy of that sacrifice is one way of measuring the public’s patriotic sentiment and our sense of progress.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- More than 6 in 10 Americans agree that the U.S. today is worthy of the sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives defending America.
- Majority agreement among all groups, with older and white Americans most likely to agree.
- However, a plurality agree the United States is less worthy of that sacrifice than in the past.
- Black and Gen Z voters see things differently, with a plurality of each saying the U.S. is today more worthy of that sacrifice.
BOTTOM LINE – American patriotism is still strong, but our sense of history and progress are interpreted differently by different groups of people.
READ THE REPORT – Click on the image below to view the slideshow or continue to read highlights of the results in the body of the article.
STILL WORTHY? – The poll of 2,000 participants, conducted by McLaughlin and Associates, asked participants:
Thinking about the upcoming observation of Memorial Day and the current state of the country, do you agree or disagree that the United States today is worthy of the sacrifice made by those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives defending America?
- 36 percent – Strongly agree
- 28 percent – Somewhat agree
- 18 percent – Somewhat disagree
- 10 percent – Strongly disagree
- 8 percent – Don’t Know
Those with the highest percentage responding “strongly agree”:
- 45 percent – Baby Boomer+
- 42 percent – Republican
- 40 percent – Whites
- 39 percent – Gen X
- 25 percent – Democrats
MORE OR LESS WORTHY? – Participants were also asked:
Compared to previous generations, is the United States today more worthy or less worthy of the sacrifice made by those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives defending America?
- 12 percent – Much more worthy
- 11 percent – Somewhat more worthy
- 32 percent – Neither
- 23 percent – Somewhat less worthy
- 16 percent – Much less worthy
- 7 percent – Don’t Know
Black and Gen Z voters were the exception with a plurality of each saying the U.S. today is MORE worthy of the sacrifice of those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives defending America.
BOTTOM LINE – American patriotism is still strong, but our sense of history and progress are interpreted differently by different groups of people.