New Gallup poll reveals Americans’ attitudes about morality, behavior and social policies
When experts fail to come up with explanations for election results or opinion polls, they often resort to platitudes like “the U.S. is a divided country.” Just how divided Americans are on moral issues shows up in the annual Gallup poll on Values and Beliefs. Since 2001, the institute asks Americans their opinions on a variety of topics from abortion to gay rights and assisted suicide. This year, results show that Americans find it easier to agree on what they deem morally wrong than on what they think is right. For at least eight in ten adults, extramarital affairs, polygamy, cloning humans and suicide topped the list of unacceptable issues, closely followed by pornography and cloning animals. On the other hand, divorce, the death penalty and gambling, are largely accepted. The top three hot button issues are doctor-assisted suicide, abortion and out-of-wedlock births. Gay and lesbian relations, pornography and premarital sex are less controversial among younger Americans. We’ll discuss the results with Frank Newport, editor of the Gallup Poll, and conduct our own informal poll. Do people become more conservative as they get older? Why or why not?
When experts fail to come up with explanations for election results or opinion polls, they often resort to platitudes like “the U.S. is a divided country.” Just how divided Americans are on moral issues shows up in the annual Gallup poll on Values and Beliefs. Since 2001, the institute asks Americans their opinions on a variety of topics from abortion to gay rights and assisted suicide. This year, results show that Americans find it easier to agree on what they deem morally wrong than on what they think is right. For at least eight in ten adults, extramarital affairs, polygamy, cloning humans and suicide topped the list of unacceptable issues, closely followed by pornography and cloning animals. On the other hand, divorce, the death penalty and gambling, are largely accepted. The top three hot button issues are doctor-assisted suicide, abortion and out-of-wedlock births. Gay and lesbian relations, pornography and premarital sex are less controversial among younger Americans. We’ll discuss the results with Frank Newport, editor of the Gallup Poll, and conduct our own informal poll. Do people become more conservative as they get older? Why or why not?
Guest:
Frank Newport PhD, Editor-in-Chief for the Gallup Poll
