Fifty-one percent of American adults say that the government should not favor any particular set of values.[1] Gallup found that nearly as many — 45 percent — believe the government should promote traditional values.
This is the third straight year that the number favoring neutrality has topped the number favoring promotion of traditional values.
Prior to 2008, the promotion of traditional values had always won more support. Two decades ago, 57 percent thought the government should promote traditional values while just 37 percent favored neutrality.
A plurality of women (49 percent) want the government to promote traditional values. Just 41 percent of men agree.
While Republicans generally favor less government intervention, two-thirds of them (66 percent) want the government to promote traditional values. On the other hand, Democrats typically express a desire for more government intervention, but only 30 percent think that should include promoting traditional values.
No definition of traditional values was provided to survey respondents, and no questions were asked about whether the government should challenge or oppose traditional values.
Footnotes:
- Gallup News, "Slim Majority Against Government Pushing Traditional Values," October 6, 2017
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology. Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
Scott Rasmussen is a Senior Fellow for the Study of Self-Governance at the King’s College in New York and an Editor-At-Large for Ballotpedia, the Encyclopedia of American Politics. His most recent book, "Politics Has Failed: America Will Not," was published by the Sutherland Institute in May.To read more of his reports — Click Here Now.
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