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Key findings on Americans’ views of the U.S. political system and democracy

Rogue Valley

Rogue Valley

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Key findings on Americans’ views of the U.S. political system and democracy

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Pew Research Center
4/26/18

The strength and stability of democracy has become a subject of intense debate in the United States and around the world. But how do Americans feel about their own democracy? As part of a year-long effort to study “Facts, Trust and Democracy” Pew Research Center has conducted a major survey of public views of the U.S. political system and American democracy. The survey finds that while Americans are in broad agreement on important ideals relating to democracy in the U.S., they think the nation is falling short in realizing many of these ideals. Here are some of the survey’s other major findings:

1• Democracy seen as working well, but most want “significant” changes. (58%)

2• Most Americans say it would be too risky to give presidents more power. (76%)

3• About a third say “who the president is” makes a big difference in their personal lives. (34%)

4• Democrats have grown less positive about elected officials who compromise. (46% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans)

5• Most Americans say policymakers should heed the will of the majority even if they and their supporters differ. (75%)

6• Most partisans say their side in politics is “losing.” (67%)

7• Government and politics seen as working better locally than nationally. (67% local / 35% federal)
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Result number six stumps me a bit. I would expect about a 50/50 split.
 
#5 gives me hope.
 
If you look at #4, #7, and then look at the decrease of competitive districts and rise of homogeneous state legislatures, you can see why people think local politics is working better than national politics. The politics of dissent and the art of compromise doesn't exactly exist at the local and state level.

People want it their way or the highway and are upset it's not quite working that way at the national level.
 
Chomsky said:
#5 gives me hope.
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I think most people are still sensible. You just don't hear much about them because it's not sensational enough to report on.

Social media and 24-hour news are not good for the societal fabric.
 
I'm not surprised by any of those results. What age group one talks to is significant on opinions. Younger people I know are very down on the two party system and the electoral college in particular.
 
Fiddytree said:
If you look at #4, #7, and then look at the decrease of competitive districts and rise of homogeneous state legislatures, you can see why people think local politics is working better than national politics. The politics of dissent and the art of compromise doesn't exactly exist at the local and state level.

People want it their way or the highway and are upset it's not quite working that way at the national level.
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Most state and local seats are held by Conservatives. It makes sense that they're performing better.
 
Harshaw said:
I think most people are still sensible. You just don't hear much about them because it's not sensational enough to report on.

Social media and 24-hour news are not good for the societal fabric.
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I think I agree.

Few are the hard-core political junkies we often are, here on DP.

But I do fear the reasonable & sensible among us who don't pay close attention, can still be mislead by factually inaccuracies, whether falsely promoted by the government, the politicos, the political orgs, or the various media.
 
Chomsky said:
I think I agree.

Few are the hard-core political junkies we often are, here on DP.

But I do fear the reasonable & sensible among us who don't pay close attention, can still be mislead by factually inaccuracies, whether falsely promoted by the government, the politicos, the political orgs, or the various media.
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I sympathize, but I don't think it's as bad as you fear.
 
Rosie1 said:
I'm not surprised by any of those results. What age group one talks to is significant on opinions. Younger people I know are very down on the two party system and the electoral college in particular.
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Then I'll give the younger generation some well deserved credit here! ;)
 
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