Zero Hedge — In Latest Poll, Americans Can't Even Agree What It Means To be An American

As if there was not enough dividing America right now - Left/Right, Male/Female/Other, Black/White, Muslin/Non-Muslim, or Gay/Straight/Other - AP finds in its latest poll that Americans can't even agree on what it means to be an American.

A new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds Republicans are far more likely to cite a culture grounded in Christian beliefs and the traditions of early European immigrants as essential to U.S. identity. Democrats are more apt to point to the country's history of mixing of people from around the globe and a tradition of offering refuge to the persecuted. While there's disagreement on what makes up the American identity, 7 in 10 people — regardless of party — say the country is losing that identity.

Are Americans essentially WASPs or is America a melting pot?

The results reflect long-standing differences in the U.S. between one camp's desire for openness and diversity and another's vision of the country grounded in the white, English-speaking, Protestant traditions of its early settlers.

Zero Hedge
In Latest Poll, Americans Can't Even Agree What It Means To be An AmericanTyler Durden

Lydia Saad — Government Named Top U.S. Problem for Second Straight Year

• 16% of Americans see government as nation's top problem
• The economy ranks second at 13%
• Unemployment mentions drop by half, but still rank third
• Immigration ranks in top four for first time in eight years

For the second consecutive year, dissatisfaction with government edged out the economy as the problem more Americans identified as the nation's top problem in 2015. According to Gallup's monthly measure of the most important problem facing the U.S., an average of 16% of Americans in 2015 mentioned some aspect of government, including President Barack Obama, Congress or political conflict, as the country's chief problem. The economy came in second with 13% mentioning it, while unemployment and immigration tied for third at 8%.

Gallup
Government Named Top U.S. Problem for Second Straight Year

Lydia Saad