(The Center Square) – A majority nationwide believe America’s best days are in the past and 73% said the Founding Fathers would not be proud of the country today, according to the results of the latest poll from the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy.
Fifty-six percent of respondents said they believe the country’s best days are behind. Only 28% said they are extremely proud to be an American. The numbers show a modern-day generation gap, with just 12% of those 12 to 29 years old agreeing they were extremely proud to be an American compared to 41% of those over the age of 65.
“This staggering lack of optimism among young people is disconcerting for the country’s future,” said John Geer, co-director of the Vanderbilt Unity Poll and professor of political science.
Some of the disdain stems from the discord between Democrats and Republicans, with 89% saying they want the fighting to stop.
The poll, taken before the Feb. 28 strike on Iran, shows only 26% think America would be safer if the country was involved in Middle East conflicts.
Respondents from both parties expressed concerns about the economy, with 63% overall saying the economy is “fairly bad” or “very bad,” but they also indicated that politicians don’t care. Twelve-percent said Democrats cared about them, and 13% said Republicans did.
“The poll makes clear that this widespread anxiety isn’t a partisan issue,” Geer said. “Foundational economic problems facing average citizens are not being solved, and the subsequent disillusionment is reflected in these numbers.”
Among the 1,032 U.S. adults surveyed, many expressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on their employment prospects. Forty-seven percent of those between 18 and 29 years old are worried that AI will hamper their job security, while 26% of those 65 and older showed concerns.
Respondents from both parties and all age groups agreed that AI should be regulated.
“These concerns about the impact of AI on the future of work cross party lines,” said Josh Clinton, Vanderbilt Poll co-director, holder of the Abby and Jon Winkelried Chair at Vanderbilt and professor of political science. “Americans are concerned about what technological disruption will mean for their ability to find and maintain employment.”
The poll was conducted between Feb. 20-23 and has a margin of error of +/3.5 percentage points, according to the university.
