What Americans Think About America
Richard Cochrane
During the summer of 1776 a group of men risk being hanged by meeting in Philadelphia and daring to speak and write against the King. They declared independence from the English crown.
This is America’s 232nd birthday, half of voters (50%) think America’s best days have come and gone. Eight out of 10 Americans (82%) say they would pick the United States if they had the choice of living anywhere in the world, but half that number (41%) do not believe this is a country with liberty and justice for all. 10% of Americans say they would live in some other country if given the choice. Fifty-six percent think the U.S. has changed for the worse since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
According to a Nationwide Rasmussen Poll today, 85% of American adults agree with the first “self-evident” truth—that all men are created equal. Ninety-one percent (91%) agree with the second of those truths—that we are all are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights including Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
In a startling finding, only 56% agree with the Declaration’s assertion that governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed. Twenty-six percent (26%) disagree and 18% are not sure.
Earlier surveys have found that hardly anybody believes the government today reflects the will of the people. Solid majorities think the federal government has become a special interest group that looks out primarily for its own interests.
On a lighter note, 40% of adults were able to properly select John Hancock as the first to sign the document. Twenty percent (20%) thought it was Thomas Jefferson, the man credited with drafting the agreement.
Twenty-three percent (23%) thought George Washington was President of that Continental Congress and 19% said Jefferson. Again, the proper answer was Hancock and only 16% got it right.
Other recent surveys have found that, if an election were held today, 91% would vote for the Constitution as the fundamental law of the land. A majority continues to believe that there is more danger in giving government too much power than in giving it too little power.
A separate survey found that just 17% believe working for the government is more honorable than working in the private sector.
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