Thursday, November 18, 2010

America-A house divided against itself

The Public Religion Institute and Brookings Institution have released the results of a Post-Election American Values Survey conducted earlier this month.  The survey findings demonstrate just how divided we are as a nation.  Here are a few of the key and most disturbing findings:

Result of the mid-term election:
50% said they were satisfied or excited about the results of the 2010 mid-term election. Only 9% of all voters were excited.  Only 22% of Republicans said they were excited about the outcome.
42% said they were either disappointed, worried, or angry about the election outcome.  3% were angry.

Health Reform:
34% of Republicans say the most important priority of Congress should be to repeal health reform
36% of Democrats say the most important priority of Congress should be to ensure the health care reform law is fully funded.

Values of Islam:
45% say the Muslim religion is at odds with American values and way of life.  (67% of Republicans think this as do 66% of Tea Party supporters.)
49% say the Muslim religion is NOT at odds with American values and way of life.

Government provision of social services:
45% say government provides too many social services.
52% say government provides too little or the right amount of social services.

Discrimination against women:
41% say discrimination against women is no longer a problem.
58% say discrimination against women is a problem.

Discrimination against whites:
44% say discrimination against whites is as big a problem as discrimination against blacks and other minorities.
54% disagree.

Gay marriage:
48% say gay couples should be allowed to marry.
49% say gay couples should NOT be allowed to marry.

Use of torture against suspected terrorists
50% say use of torture is okay.
48% say they don’t agree with the use of torture.

Barack Obama’s religious beliefs:
40% say Obama’s religious beliefs are very or somewhat similar to their own.
51% say Obama’s religious beliefs are very or somewhat different from their own.

God and America:
58% say that God has granted America a special role in human history.  (75% of Republicans and 76% of Tea Party supporters think this.)
38% disagree that God has granted American a special role.

Solving social problems:
56% say social problems would take care of themselves if enough people had a personal relationship with God.
42% disagree.

Other findings:
87% of voters who said Fox news was their most trusted news source voted Republican.

54% of mid-term voters were over 50.
70% of non-voters were under 50.
74% of voters were white.

Read a summary of key findings here:


“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”  Abraham Lincoln.

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