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Americans Agree More Than They Might Think Not Knowing This

Leo Migdal
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americans agree more than they might think not knowing this

Associate Professor of Philosophy, Rochester Institute of Technology Lawrence Torcello does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Rochester Institute of Technology provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. The United States presents a paradox: Though the media and public opinion suggest it is a nation deeply divided along partisan lines, surveys reveal that Americans share significant common ground on many core values... As a political philosopher, I am deeply concerned about the perceived contrast between the public’s shared political concerns and the high level of polarization that is dividing the electorate. WASHINGTON, D.C.

— Eight in 10 U.S. adults agree on a variety of issues that reflect core aspects of U.S. democracy. These include that using violence to achieve political goals is never OK; that elected leaders should compromise to get things done; and that having a mix of races, religions and cultures benefits the nation. Americans also express a desire to limit the political influence of wealthy individuals and businesses and believe there is a difference between facts and opinions. These findings are the first from the Kettering Foundation/Gallup Democracy for All Project and are based on a multimodal (web and mail) survey of over 20,000 U.S.

adults, conducted July 7 to Aug. 25. This is a five-year project designed to measure Americans’ views of how well democracy serves the U.S. and Americans from a variety of different backgrounds. The full report details how Americans largely agree that democracy is the best form of government but do not believe it is functioning well right now. As part of the survey, Americans were shown five pairs of contrasting perspectives on how democracy and U.S.

society should function and were asked to choose which perspective comes closer to their view. Large majorities of all key subgroups of Americans reject violence, favor compromise and embrace a multicultural society. There are modest differences in some of these views by party, age and education. For example, Democrats, independents and college graduates are somewhat more likely than Republicans and non-college graduates to see multiculturalism as a strength. Older Americans and Democrats are more likely than younger Americans and Republicans to endorse compromise. Age differences are even more pronounced when it comes to rejecting the use of political violence, with senior citizens most opposed and young adults the least.

This relationship will be explored in more depth in an article to be released next week. Another question in the survey, asked on a five-point agree/disagree scale, finds that eight in 10 Americans strongly agree (39%) or agree (41%) that everyone, regardless of their views, has the right to free,... Just 5% disagree, and 15% are neutral. Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor. Learn more The United States presents a paradox: Though the media and public opinion suggest it is a nation deeply divided along partisan lines, surveys reveal that Americans share significant common ground on many core values...

As a political philosopher, I am deeply concerned about the perceived contrast between the public's shared political concerns and the high level of polarization that is dividing the electorate. Despite the prevailing narrative of polarization, Americans frequently agree on essential issues. For instance, there is widespread support for high-quality health care that is accessible to all and for stronger gun-control regulations. Remarkably, many Americans advocate for both the right to bear arms and additional restrictions on firearms. A new study from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University and Public Agenda finds that Americans are deeply concerned about the state of U.S. democracy and that growing divisions within the Republican Party deepen partisan divides over how the Constitution should guide presidential authority and the balance of power.

The report draws from a national survey of 4,500 Americans, earlier polling, and three focus groups with Republican participants. It builds on prior SNF Agora research documenting Republican disagreement about the legitimacy of the 2020 election. It shows that these differences now extend to views of presidential power, constitutional limits, elections, and trust in government. The research identifies three distinct groups within the Republican Party: "Americans share deep concern for our democracy, but we do not all have the same reasons," said Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda. "Republicans in particular are divided between those who support unfettered presidential power and those who believe checks and balances are essential to the integrity of our constitutional order.

These differences represent a deep cleavage in the Republican Party with consequences for the future of American democracy." Across parties, most Americans express concern about U.S. democracy: Americans of all partisan stripes agree free trade agreements are important, but Republicans want them with a side of trade barriers. Since re-entering the White House this year, President Donald Trump and his administration have upended America’s longstanding approach to trade with other nations. Unilateral tariffs are now the order of the day, and the chaotic nature of their rollout has scrambled the international trading system as the world has known it for decades.

The result has been finger-pointing at home and market-rattling trade wars with friends and adversaries alike. Data from the 2025 Chicago Council Survey, fielded July 18–30, 2025, finds the American public remains largely positive toward the idea of international trade. However, Republicans embrace Trump’s penchant for smashing established norms and the widespread use of tariffs, while Democrats and Independents oppose them. Partisan divisions have reached extremes over tariffs’ effectiveness, the dangers of an economic downturn, and whether economic or military power matters most for America’s global influence. Americans agree that the fruits of foreign trade are sweet. Overall, two-thirds say trade benefits the United States and other countries (64%) and an additional 15 percent thinks it mostly benefits the United States (79% combined).

This is up 22 points from a combined 57 percent when the Chicago Council first asked this question in 2017. window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}); Demonstrators rally on Pennsylvania Avenue during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Demonstrators carry a signed banner representing the U.S.

Constitution as they march to the national Mall during a No Kings protest in Washington, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) A person holds an American flag upside-down during a “No Kings” protest Oct. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it’s doing “very” or “moderately” well, according to a poll, marking a... The Kettering Foundation-Gallup survey found that about two-thirds of Americans “strongly agree” or “agree” that democracy is the best form of government. Very few disagree, with about one-third saying they don’t have an opinion. But alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, few believe the country’s leaders are committed to democratic governance or think government decisions reflect the will of the people. Convergence Center For Policy Resolution In a November 27th piece ahead of Thanksgiving, Jacob Hess followed and expanded on Convergence’s 2024 Gift: 10 Important Beliefs Most Americans Share.

Hess captured the Convergence holiday spirit and included a hopeful quote from Convergence Executive Vice President, Beth Miller saying, “We may have different ideas of how to get there, but there’s so much we agree on and want to see happen.” He also included Convergence CEO Mariah Levison’s inspiring and thoughtful quote: “Very few wake up in the morning wanting to make the world a worse place.”

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