Poll: 7 In 10 Americans Say US Is On the 'Edge Of a Civil War'

Brittany M. Hughes | October 24, 2019
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According to a disturbing new survey, seven in 10 Americans say the United States is “on the edge of a civil war” – and, perhaps even worse, they don’t want to compromise on anything to avoid it.

Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service found that 67% believing that the nation is nearing civil war, including 64% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans, and full 70% if registered Independents. 

Another 84% saying they agree with the statement that “behavior that used to be seen as unacceptable is now accepted as normal behavior.”

Unsurprisingly, 88% reported being “frustrated with the rudeness in politics today.”  However, while 87% said they agreed that “compromise and common ground should be the goal for political leaders,” when it comes to compromising their ideas, a nearly equal 84% said that they are “tired of leaders compromising my values and ideals,” saying they want “leaders who will stand up to the other side.”

Adding to the public frustration are “growing unfavorable ratings of President Trump and most 2020 Democratic presidential candidates,” Georgetown’s analysis added, saying that while an increasing number of Americans are reporting unfavorably opinions of Trump, most don’t seem to care for any of the current Democratic contenders set to challenge him in 2020.

When it comes to placing blame for the widening divide, Georgetown found the majority of respondents “blame social media, the news media, and President Trump for the growing division.” That breakdown predictably falls along partisan lines, with the majority of the GOP blaming Democratic leaders and news outlets like CNN and MSNBC, and the majority of Democrats blaming Republicans and Trump.

The fact that the vast majority of the country believes our nation is widely divided is clear. The path toward solving that problem? Not so much.

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