USA TODAY International Edition
Americans are pessimistic about healing deep divides
In the days following the most contentious presidential election in decades, Americans remain pessimistic about healing the country’s wounds, according to a recent Monmouth University poll.
In total, 76% of Americans see the country as deeply divided on its most foundational values. Only 21% think the country agrees on basic issues.
That said, about 31% of the public believes the country will grow more united over the next year, while 25% expect Americans to grow more divided; 35% expect to see little change.
Consensus about the nation’s division spans party lines, with Democrats, Republicans and independents agreeing in similar proportions about the schisms in the country. Where partisans differ is how responsible President Donald Trump is for the sharp divides.
According to Monmouth, 90% of Democrats believe the country has become more divided under Trump, while only 49% of Republicans agree.
Americans are also willing to point fingers at Washington for the country’s division. Among those polled, 51% blame the division on elected officials who are not willing to compromise. Forty- two percent say the problems in government stem from elected officials who are not willing to stand up for their principles.
Regardless of where blame lies for Washington’s past dysfunction, 62% of Americans believe it is more important for congressional Republicans to find ways to work with Biden compared with 34% of the public who believe it most important that Republicans keep the president- elect in check.
Congress’ job rating stands at 23% who approve and 64% who disapprove, according to Monmouth.
The Monmouth poll also indicates that negative partisanship, or fear of one’s rival political faction, is a driving factor in its findings.
When asked whether the country would suffer lasting damage if people who hold core political beliefs different from their own could enact their policies, a majority of the public, at 56%, has “a great deal of concern”, while 29% have “some concern” about the possibility.
While Americans are generally pessimistic about the political system, they remain divided on whether Trump remedied or worsened the situation. Just 29% of the public believes Trump made progress in “draining the swamp,” compared with 32% who think he has made the situation worse, and 34% who say nothing has really changed.
As for Trump, 46% approve of him and 53% disapprove, the survey found.
That sharp divide helps explain what Monmouth researchers called “the most alarming finding in the poll.”
According to Monmouth, about 45% of Americans believe Trump has done more to undermine the U. S. Constitution than past presidents. By contrast, 37% believe Trump has done more to protect the Constitution compared with past presidents, and 15% have observed no differences.
The telephone poll of 810 people was conducted Nov. 12- 16. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 points.
Only 21% of the people surveyed think their country agrees on basic issues.