80% of likely voters say they are “proud” to be American
Yet large majorities of younger voters, Democrats, and liberals believe their country and its institutions are “systemically” racist and sexist
53% of young voters favor legislation that would give
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL (July 14, 2022) – A new poll by The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports found that while 80% of likely voters say they are “very proud” or “somewhat proud” to be an American, that pride wanes a bit among Democrats (70%), younger voters between the ages of 19 and 39 (70%), and self-identified liberals (64%).
Separately, when asked if they agree with the statement “America is the best country in the world,” 68% of Democrats, 62% of younger voters, and 55% of liberals “somewhat” or “strongly” agreed.
Yet, when asked if America and its institutions are “systemically racist,” strong majorities of Democrats (71%), younger voters (61%), and liberals (78%) agreed. And when asked if America and its institutions are “systemically sexist,” strong majorities of Democrats (75%), younger voters (59%), and liberals (80%) also agreed. Among female likely voters overall, 61% said America is “systemically sexist.”
The only segment of likely voters who favored “legislation that would give the United Nations authority over the U.S. government to protect the civil rights of American Citizens were voters were (roughly speaking) Millennials. A majority (53%) of those between 19 and 39 either “strongly” or “somewhat” favored that position. Only 43% of Democrats, 42% of liberals, 22% of conservatives, and 21% of Republicans agreed.
The poll of 1,025 likely voters was conducted from July 6-7, 2022. Among those surveyed in the poll, 33% were Republicans, 35% were Democrats, and 32% were Independents; 48% were men, 52% were women; 67% were white, 13% were black, 13% were Hispanic, and 7% identified as “other.”
See the poll questions and the cross tabs here [an Excel document].
Overall, 80% of likely voters, no matter their political affiliation, are “very” or “somewhat” proud to be an American. On a similar note, 77% of likely voters “strongly” or “somewhat” agree with the statement that America is the best country in the world.
While 90% of Republicans and conservatives are “very” or “somewhat” proud to be an American, a solid 70% of Democrats and 61% of liberals are also “very” or “somewhat” proud to be an American. Similarly, 70% of likely voters aged 19 to 39-years-old are “very” or “somewhat” proud to be an American.
Democrats See America as Sexist
Although only 34% of Republicans and 30% of conservatives think America and most of its institutions are systemically sexist in favor of men, 75% of Democrats and 80% of liberals agree with this statement. Among Independent voters, less than half (48%) think America is inherently sexist.
Most women (61%) agree that America is sexist, whereas most men (52%) disagree with this statement. Among young voters, 59% think America’s institutions are fundamentally sexist. Yet, less than half (45%) of voters over the age of 65 agree with this statement.
Democrats See America as Racist
The poll found that 48% of all likely voters “somewhat” or “strongly” believe United States and most of its institutions are systematically racist. Meanwhile, 71% of Democrats and 78% of liberals believe this to be true. On the other hand, just 23% of Republicans and 24% of conservatives agree that the United States is an inherently racist country. When it comes to Independent voters, 47% think America and most of its institutions are rooted in racism.
Most young voters (61%) tend to agree that the United States and most of its institutions are racist. On the contrary, only 36% of voters over the age of 65 and 43% of voters aged 40 to 64-years-old agree that America is awash in racism.
When broken down by race, 70% of black voters, 59% of Hispanic voters, and 41% of white voters “somewhat” or ‘strongly” agree that America and most of its institutions are systemically racist.
Young Voters Want United Nations, Not U.S. Government, to Protect American Citizens’ Civil Rights
Since the United States was founded in 1789, it has retained total sovereignty over the protection of American citizens’ civil rights. However, most young voters (53%) believe the U.S. government should surrender its sovereignty over the protection of American citizens’ civil rights to the United Nations. On the other end of the spectrum, just 7% of likely voters over the age of 65 would support such a law. And, 68% of voters aged 40 to 64-years-old “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose any law that would relinquish the U.S. government’s authority to protect the civil rights of American citizens to the United Nations.
Moreover, only 30% of likely voters “strongly” or “somewhat” favor legislation that would give the United Nations authority over the U.S. government to protect the civil rights of American citizens. The vast majority of Republicans (74%) and conservatives (73%) “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose a law that would grant the United Nations the power to protect the civil rights of American citizens.
The following statements from policy experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. If you’d like to interview a Heartland Institute expert on this topic or other topics, please contact Justin Haskins, the director of Heartland’s Socialism Research Center and primary author of the Heartland/Rasmussen survey, at [email protected], or contact Vice President and Director of Communications Jim Lakely at [email protected]. You can also call/text Jim at 312-731-9364.
“While it is reassuring to see that broad swathes of the American people are proud to be American and believe the United States is the best country, it is puzzling and alarming that many of these same respondents also think the United States suffers from systemic racism and sexism. But, it is flat-out frightening that most young voters believe the United States should abandon its power to protect the civil rights of American citizens to the United Nations. As globalism gains momentum, and the World Economic Forum continues to push its Great Reset agenda, we must ensure that the U.S. government retains sole dominion when it comes to protecting the civil rights of American citizens.”
Chris Talgo
Senior Editor
The Heartland Institute
“I am pleased by most of the results of this poll. Despite all the political division and heated rhetoric, strong majorities across the board are still proud to be American and see the United States as the best country in the world. However, I am deeply troubled by the majority of 19 to 39-year-olds who would support a plan to cede our national sovereignty to the United Nations over perceived civil rights abuses.”
Donald Kendal
Research Fellow
The Heartland Institute
“The fact that three-quarters of Democrats and 60 percent of young voters believe that American institutions are systemically racist and sexist is concerning enough. However, the most distressing aspect of this poll is found within the response to the last question. Forty-three percent of Democrats, and a whopping 53 percent of young voters, would somewhat or strongly favor a law placing the United States under the purview of the United Nations. That is simply mind-boggling. Such a law would destroy our democracy, end the rule of law, erode our national security, and ultimately extinguish the freedoms that countless Americans have given their lives to protect, time and time again.”
Jack McPherrin
Research Editor, Research Fellow
The Heartland Institute
The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems.
National Survey of 1,025 Likely Voters on America
Conducted July 6-7, 2022
By The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports
How proud are you to be an American?
58% – very proud
22% – somewhat proud
13% – not very proud
6% – not at all proud
2% – not sure
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement?: “America is the best country in the world.”
52% – strongly agree
25% – somewhat agree
12% – somewhat disagree
9% – strongly disagree
3% – not sure
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement?: “America and most of its institutions are systemically sexist in favor of men.”
27% – strongly agree
26% – somewhat agree
21% – somewhat disagree
22% – strongly disagree
5% – not sure
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement?: “America and most of its institutions are systemically racist.”
22% – strongly agree
26% – somewhat agree
18% – somewhat disagree
31% – strongly disagree
3% – not sure
Would you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose legislation that would give the United Nations authority over the U.S. government to protect the civil rights of American citizens?
13% – strongly favor
17% – somewhat favor
11% – somewhat oppose
50% – strongly oppose
9% – not sure
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence
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Justin Haskins is the director of the Socialism Research Center and editorial director at The Heartland Institute.
Chris Talgo is senior editor at The Heartland Institute and a research fellow for Heartland’s Socialism Research Center.
Donald Kendal is a graphic designer for The Heartland Institute, a research fellow for Heartland’s Socialism Research Center, and the host of Heartland’s In the Tank Podcast and Stopping Socialism TV.
Jack McPherrin is The Heartland Institute’s research editor, as well as a research fellow within Heartland’s Socialism Research Center.
Jim Lakely is the Vice President and Director of Communications of The Heartland Institute.
