What Things Do Most Americans Agree On?

by | Nov 6, 2020

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Picture source: Milwaukee Independent

Even though our country is polarized politically, most of us actually agree on quite a few issues.

First, 71% of Americans believe that “we have more in common with each other than many people think.” Source. Below are survey results that show evidence in that regard:

  • Freedoms: 81% of Americans believe that “without our freedoms America is nothing.” Source.
  • Immigrants: 66% believe that “new immigrants are good for the U.S.” Source.
  • Racial Bias: Three-fourths of us believe that racial bias against Black Americans is serious problem. Source.
  • Diversity: 75% of Americans think it is important for companies to promote racial and ethnic diversity and 76% believe that racial and ethnic diversity is good for our country. Source.
  • LGBT: Three-fourths of us think that Gay and Lesbian relationships should be legal (up from 32% in 1986) and two-thirds support gay marriage. Source.
  • Health Care: 89% of us think that affordable health care is an essential right. Source. And 74% of us believe that the U.S. government should do more to provide health insurance for more Americans. Source.
  • Abortion: 79% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal (50% under any circumstance and 29% with limitations) and 72% think “a woman’s ability to choose and make decisions affecting her body and personal life should be protected.” Source and Source.
  • Infrastructure: Over 80% of Americans believe that upgrading our infrastructure should be a priority. Source.
  • Guns: Over 90% of Americans “favor preventing people with mental illnesses from buying guns and large majorities of both Democrats (93%) and Republicans (82%) favor background checks for private gun sales and sales at gun shows.” Source.
  • College Costs: Three-fourths of us think that the government should take action to decrease the cost of college. Source.
  • Climate Change: A large majority of Americans believe that climate change is real and a slight majority believe that humans are to blame:
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Interestingly, many of the rights about which we most agree on we also think are the least secure. Which is confounding. We are a democracy. If we all think these things are important we can take action to protect these rights:

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Source: Harvard Kennedy School

3 Comments

  1. Thanks John! I love these IFODs you do…especially now in 2020. Hope you and the family are well. Matt
    P.S I’m reading a book called The Upswing by Robert D. Putnam. It is how America came together a century ago during the Gilded Age and how we can do it again.

    Reply
  2. Seeing the fervor of the comments on social media and the typical narrative from the media, I would have never imagined abortion, guns, and climate change to be on a list of items that Americans mostly agree upon. Appreciate the additional detail on those subjects in particular, for understanding. (Americans do not agree on gun ownership/control, but that people with mental illness should not own them are two vastly different opinions).

    A book I’m just starting that’s been on my “To Read” list for awhile is by Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion.

    Reply

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