Karlyn H. Bowman, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, has compiled a substantial collection of polls taken by major U.S. pollsters on patriotism and willingness to serve in the military. The compilation looks at historical and contemporary opinion and includes a section on the attitudes of young people.
America is a deeply patriotic country, and Americans praise their system of government while acknowledging its faults. A bare majority (52 percent) in the latest Pew poll agree that we should all be willing to fight for our country whether it is right or wrong, while 43 percent disagree. In a Fox News question from October 2001, 76 percent said that if it became clear more soldiers were needed in the war on terrorism, they would approve of reinstating the draft. Forty-one percent gave that response in April 2004. Young people are less enthusiastic about the draft than their elders in Gallup's polls. A poll of college undergraduates in March 2004 (conducted by Harvard University) found that 87 percent described themselves as very or somewhat patriotic.
Among the Study's Findings
- America is a deeply patriotic country. Fifty-six percent in a recent Pew poll say they agree completely with the statement "I am very patriotic," and 35 agree with it somewhat. Eighty-nine percent in another survey agree that "whatever its faults, the United States still has the best system of government in the world."
- A bare majority (52 percent) in the latest Pew poll agree that we should all be willing to fight for our country whether it is right or wrong, while 43 percent disagree. In 1987, the first time the question was asked, those responses were virtually identical: 54 precent and 40 percent, respectively.
- In a Fox News question asked soon after the 9/11 attacks, 76 percent said that if it became clear more soldiers were needed in the war on terrorism, they would approve of reinstating the draft. Forty-one percent gave that response in April 2004.
- Young people are less enthusiastic about the draft than their elders in Gallup's polls. Still, they consider themselves patriots. A poll of college undergraduates in March 2004 (conducted by the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University) found that 87 percent described themselves as very or somewhat patriotic.
The
document is indexed for easy reference.
Bowman, who specializes in public opinion polls, is available for interviews at 202.862.5910 or
kbowman@aei.org (asst: 202.862.5917).
"Public Opinion on Patriotism" is one of a series of AEI
studies on public opinion, which are updated regularly as new polls become available.
The studies include trend data from most major pollsters in the United States. For more information, contact Veronique Rodman, AEI director of public affairs, at 202.862.4871 or
vrodman@aei.org.
