Is America a Good Country or Not?
Periodically pollster Scott Rasmussen asks voters whether they think America is basically fair and decent or whether America is basically unfair and discriminatory. In the latest survey, 64 percent say America is basically fair and decent, and 22 percent say it is unfair and discriminatory. Men (70 percent) are considerably more likely than women (59 percent) to say that America is fair and decent. As one might expect, blacks tend to think America is unfair and discriminatory rather than fair and decent, by a 47 percent to 37 percent margin. Whites take a positive view (67 percent to 18 percent) and so do "others" (63 percent to 33 percent), a category that I assume is mostly made up of Hispanics. Republicans by a wide margin (78 percent to 12 percent) see America as fair and decent, while Democrats are split (49 percent to 36 percent).
This poll was conducted on March 31 and April 1 (registration required). Rasmussen has asked this question 19 times since November 2006; the fair and decent response peaked at 64 percent then and in early February (because of Barack Obama's showings in the primaries?). The most negative response (54 percent to 32 percent fair and decent over unfair and discriminatory) came in July 2007.
I think this split among Democrats is a permanent problem for the party. The Democratic base is split between those who like hearing good things about America and those who like to hear the nation denounced or, if that's too strong a word, criticized. Bill Clinton was skillful enough to weave together rhetoric celebrating America and apologizing for its past misdeeds, but not all Democratic politicians are so deft.
You see a similar pattern in the responses to another Rasmussen question, should the United States do what its allies want or should the allies do what the United States wants? All: Allies should do what the United States wants, 42 percent to 29 percent. Republicans: Allies should do what the United States wants, 66 percent to 13 percent. Democrats: United States should do what the allies want, 39 percent to 30 percent. Interestingly, voters under 30 come out on the side of allies doing what the United States wants, 57 percent to 28 percent.
There's little equivocation on whether people who move to the United States should adopt American culture or retain their home country culture. American culture comes out way ahead among all voters (78 percent to 11 percent), Republicans (89 percent to 4 percent), and Democrats (69 percent to 16 percent). Multiculturalism has a very small base in our country.
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Reader Comments
Still a good country?
I'm not sure anymore.
If we still are a decent country, it's DESPITE BushCo and their shameful behavior.
Decency is on the decline because of leftists
If America is such a terrible country as many on the left believe, why is it that millions of people have and do risk their lives to get here? How many other countries in the world have even a close second to the numbers of people who want to go to that country versus those wanting to come to America?
Americans, particularly the poorest of us, are the most generous, compassionate, selfless, and helpful people in the world.
Americans share their wealth, technology, ideas, and time helping more people throughout the world than any other people.
Ralph: BushCO as you call them are no more shameful in their behavior than many other presidents and their administrations.
With that said, those on the left are working very dilligently to change the hearts and minds of people to become indecent by promoting their moral and ethical relativism which serves only to increase perversions of all kinds, commodification of humanity, and a victim mentality that will inevitably create another civil war.
America is a Great Country
I agree with Elaine in the respect that I don't see any immigrants swimming to Canada or The Phillipines. However, for an American to have a mentality of 'our side, your side', THAT is what is wrong with America. That is what leaves Elaine, presumably on the right, to believe any nonsense about a civil war in America.
I served my country proudly in the Marine Corps, and that serving was under both a republican president and a democratic president. I have been spat at, at various places on our planet, I have also been welcomed with smiles. I was proud to be a symbol of their right to accept me as they saw fit. America's problem has nothing to do really with how the world perceives us. We are extremely generous to countries who vote against us, yet we are steadfast. We defend those who cannot defend themselves, yet they are ungrateful. When America takes a hit, they dance in their streets, yet it is the American soldier that will die in their streets for them as they dance.
America's problem is those who reside within her great boundaries. I consider myself just left of center, but I do not perceive America as two rivals, 'our side, your side'. When America gets past that mentality, and appreciates itself, the outside world perception may also change. I would have liked to see Elaine back up her sentiments with examples supporting her opinion on Leftists working dilligently to change perceptions of our country for the worse. I proudly worked dilligently in a USMC uniform to change the perceptions of America for much better. Better yet, I don't need any supporting sources for Elaine's opinion, as it is her opinion I also fought to defend, from over here on the Left. If there is a split amongst those who put their party, or their 'side' before their own morals, it is far from being a Democratic Party problem only. There are splits in the Republican Party as well, which just about brings us to a four way split. 'Victim Mentality'... what a great term for an individual to use to describe the 'other side', while playing the 'victim' of the perception of our country. The perception of our country rests on the hands of EVERYONE in it, not just a political party.
America remains a great country despite this split, due to the fact that many many men and women have died to defend every American's right to dissent and voice their opinions.
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