Americans’ once-prevailing view that government should do what it can to promote traditional values in society has weakened in the past decade. Today 48 percent hold that view, while nearly as many, 46 percent, say government should not favor any particular set of values.
Gallup Research reported an interesting variance in the survey this year: “In most of Gallup’s Governance surveys from 2001 through 2010, older generations of Americans were more likely than those in Generations X or Y to say they want government to sanction and protect traditional values. However, the percentage of young adults—aged 18 to 34—who want government to promote traditional values has been steadily increasing in recent years, rising from 38 percent in 2008 to 53 percent today.”
In conclusion, the research report said, “In contrast to a few years ago, when Americans firmly favored government’s advancing of traditional values, Americans today are divided over whether government should actively promote traditional values or not favor any set of values. Recent support for the government’s promoting traditional values has proved a bit volatile, twice spiking to 53%, but the broader trend clearly shows a change to a more even split in the public’s views.”
To read the complete survey results, click here.
