WASHINGTON, DC — A new poll says that 7 of 10 Americans believe the United States is “on the edge of a civil war.” The downside to that is that those surveyed are not interested in doing anything to change it.
The Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service (GU Politics) Battleground Poll is a national bipartisan survey measuring political opinion and civility among registered voters in the United States. The poll was produced by two top pollsters from different sides of the political aisle: Republican strategist Ed Goeas of The Tarrance Group and Democratic strategist Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners.
The poll found that a “majority of Americans believe political, racial, and class divisions are getting worse.” The poll found this true among men and women whether from an urban, suburban, or rural setting. The poll said voters across the board or “approximately 7-in-10 or more voters in every age” see major divisions in this country based on politics.
It should come as no surprise that America in many ways has a “highly polarized 
electorate.” The rise of non-traditional standards in America has set people at odds over the last 25 years as traditional Christian standards are eroded and the numbers of Christians in the US has declined. The rule of law versus mob rule democracy has also pitted people against each other as some view. The difference between understanding of a written Constitution versus an evolving document is also a dividing point.
This has led to increased tension as Christian moral and social standards have been challenged by rising new standards and promotion of political correctness adopted by recent college educated students and secularism in society. With this dichotomy the US has experienced a rise in and acceptance of same-sex bathrooms, transgender activism, homosexual activity, and increased visibility and outspokenness of these groups and visible street activism and anti-social activity including confrontations. Activist groups such as Islam, Antifa, Social Democrats of America, and the Communist Party USA have made inroads and become more visible and active since the 1950s-60’s and especially in the last 20-25 years. Much of this due to changed standards of education and media, whether social or traditional.
These observations contribute to the Civility Poll’s additional finding that the average voter believes the U.S. is two-thirds of the way to the edge of a civil war. On a 0-100 scale with 100 being “edge of a civil war,” the mean response is 67.23.
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With Christian and non-Christian factions underlying the opinions in the electorate the poll reveals significant contradictions. While voters agree that our political culture has become uncivil it also wants leaders to “stand up to the other side” and to “powerful special interests.”
These criticisms are not necessarily mutually exclusive, of course, but they do suggest a more complex and nuanced perspective on American politics, and one which goes beyond frustration over a decline in civility alone. Voters also seem to disagree on the source of the incivility. Majorities of Republicans say Democratic political leaders, social media, large newspapers, CNN, and MSNBC are very responsible for our political division. Meanwhile, majorities of Democrats say Republican political leaders, social media, Fox News, wealthy special interests, and President Trump are very responsible. Independents single out just two actors as very responsible for divisive political discourse – social media and President Trump.
Other questions in the poll found:
- Voters were concerned about uncivil and rude behavior (88% agree, including 71% strongly agree).
- Voter expressed dissatisfaction with politicians who work with the powerful special interest groups instead of standing up to them (90% agree, including 73% strongly agree).
- Voters believe “compromise and common ground should be the goal for political leaders” (87% agree, including 64% strongly agree)
- Voters are “tired of leaders compromising their values and ideals (84% agree, including 63% strongly agree). It was found that a higher percentage of Republicans and rural voters answered this way than Democrats and independents.
- Independents rated media outlets like the Washington Post and the New York Times as not very responsible (62% not very responsible) or CNN (63% not very responsible) and MSNBC (69% not very responsible).
- Voters also are more likely to assign blame to Democratic political leaders as not very responsible (65%) and Republican political leaders as not very responsible (68%).
“8 in 10 voters are unwilling to “compromise” yet want “common ground” and leaders who will “stand up to the other side.” — The Civility Poll conducted by the Georgetown University Institute of Politics
Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service, Mo Elleithee said, “Our Civility Poll finds that eighty percent of voters say that they both demand compromise from political leaders, but want political leaders who will stand up to the other side. That creates mixed messages for even the most skilled political leader trying to decide whether to be a fighter or a dealmaker.”
All data and material for this article were cited from the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service Battleground Civility Poll.
Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard, a pastor, businessman and conference speaker.
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