Surprisingly, Americans see the handwriting on the wall. The majority believe they are losing liberties, freedom, and rights.
The APM Research Lab reported these results from a national survey conducted in May. Their previous polls have indicated that liberty, freedom, and rights are the main reasons Americans value their democracy.
Apparently, considering developments over the past few years, this recent survey was designed to determine what Ameri- cans believed was happening to these cherished issues. Overall, a majority of Americans believe have lost more personal freedoms in the past ten years than they have gained and will continue to lose more than gain in the next decade.
Eric Plutzer, McCourt- ney Institute polling director, summarized the situation.
“The last ten years have seen expansions of rights in marriage equality, private use of recreational marijuana, overall re- duction in taxes, and an extended series of court and legislative victories for religious freedom. That both liberals and conservatives feel that fundamental rights are at risk illustrates the zero-sum nature of today’s politics. Both sides’ belief that their rights will erode is bound to animate politics in the coming years.”
When asked how individual liberties, freedom, and rights will change in the next ten years, 68 percent of Americans believe they will lose more than they will gain.
- Roughly one in 10 Americans believe they will gain more liberties, freedom, and rights in the next decade. About one-fifth said there would be no loss or gain.
- About half of Generation Z believes they will lose more than they will gain, compared to about three-fourths of Generation X and Baby Boomers. This is probably optimistic youth versus experience. • Seventy-five percent of White Americans believe they will lose more than they will gain compared to 47 percent of Black Americans and 55 percent of Hispanic/Latino Ameri- cans. These are interesting statistics. Do they mean that Blacks and Hispanics are much more optimistic about the future of the Country than Whites? Or do they indicate that Blacks and Hispanics figure they are already without some liberties, freedom, and rights? Or maybe both explanations?
- Only seven percent of Republicans indicated they would gain more than they will lose, while over three-fourths believe they will lose more than gain. This is a paradox when their party is working hard to diminish American democracy.
When asked how individual liberties, freedom, and rights have changed, 56 percent of Americans said they have fewer than they did ten years ago.
- Just over one-quarter of Americans said they have the same individual liberties, freedom, and rights as ten years ago, while 17 percent said they have more.
- Forty-two percent of Generation Z indicated they have fewer rights than ten years ago, as opposed to 63 percent of Baby Boomers and 65 percent of the Silent Generation. Youth versus experience again.
- Sixty-four percent of White Americans believe they have fewer rights, compared to 46 percent of Black Americans and 37 percent of Hispanic/
Latino Americans. Interesting as before.
- Three-fourths of Republicans said they have fewer rights, while only 38 percent of Democrats agreed.
The survey results suggested a reason for optimism about saving American democracy un- til we arrived at that last item: three-fourths of Republicans said they have fewer rights now than ten years ago. At the same time, only 38 percent of Democrats thought so. Moreover, when asked to describe individual liberties, freedom, and rights that have changed or will change, Republicans emphasized different issues from Democrats.
Democrats tended to mention things like the following:
- Liberty to be vaccinated or not; have an abortion; voter rights; educators teaching about race, slavery, etc.
- The ability to have a home, healthy food, clean water, go to the doctor for anything and live without struggling constantly.
Republicans tended to mention things like the following:
- Freedom of speech, assembly, religion.
- Right to bear arms, freedom of religion, and right to a fair election.
- Free speech at schools and universities; free speech on social media; more restrictions on gun ownership; rights to determine what vaccines they receive without losing jobs, etc.; the government shutdowns of selected businesses, lockdowns, and masking
These are the issues dividing America today. Liberty, freedom, and rights mean one thing to Democrats and another to Republicans. So how can the twain ever meet?
