A new poll finds that most Americans share many core values on what it means to be an American despite the country’s deep political polarization.

Despite the country’s deep political polarization, most Americans share many core beliefs about what it means to be an American, according to a new poll.

The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 9 in 10 U.S. adults say the right to vote, the right to equal protection under the law and the right to privacy are extremely important or very important to the United States’ identity as a nation. The survey also found that 84% feel the same way about the freedom of religion.

  • z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml
    42·
    8 months ago

    “So maybe it’s not the politicians who suck; maybe it’s something else. Like the public. That would be a nice realistic campaign slogan for somebody: “The public sucks. Elect me.” Put the blame where it belongs: on the people. Because if everything is really the fault of politicians, where are all the bright, honest, intelligent Americans who are ready to step in and replace them? Where are these people hiding? The truth is, we don’t have people like that.” - George Carlin

    • Buelldozer@lemmy.today
      41·
      8 months ago

      Carlin was wrong. We absolutely DO have people like that but our 2 Party Political System works overtime to keep them off the ballot.

      You will rarely get to vote for one of those people not because they don’t exist but because the D & R Corporation’s don’t want you to.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      42·
      8 months ago

      Let’s say you want to go to the Olympics for the 100m sprint.

      You can bust ass and train your whole life. But there’s no testing for early events, so right up till qualifiers, everyone else is on steroids and amphetamines.

      It would be very very hard to outrun them if you weren’t using it

      So you never make it far enough to even make the Olympic team, even if those PED users have to quit a year before the event which makes them slower than you were at your peak.

      In politics the PEDs is money from shady sources, and the shady people using don’t have to stop when they get close to the real event, they actually get more and it’s totally legal.

      An ethical.person following the rules will rarely beat a sociopath willing to do anything just to win.

      When George Carlin was alive, it was a lot easier for a random ethical person to get involved in politics. But both political parties have done everything they can to change that. Which includes legalizing unfair advantages they have like deep pocket donors.