Only 27% of Democrats Will Fly Flag This July 4: Poll
A Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals a stark partisan divide on patriotism, with 64 percent of Republicans planning to display flags compared to 27 percent of Democrats this Independence Day.
A striking new poll has revealed a vast partisan divide over patriotism and Independence Day celebrations, with Republicans embracing traditional American symbols and values at far higher rates than Democrats as the nation approaches its 250th birthday.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey, conducted between June 12 and 15 among 1,537 American adults, exposed sharp ideological differences in how citizens plan to mark July 4, according to New York Post.
The data shows 64 percent of Republicans intend to display an American flag or flag bunting outside their homes this Independence Day, compared with a mere 27 percent of Democrats—a 37-point gap that underscores the growing cultural chasm between the two parties.
Democrats View July 4 Differently Than Republicans
The survey revealed even more dramatic differences in how Americans understand the meaning of the national holiday itself.
Nearly two-thirds of Republicans—65 percent—described July 4 as a day to celebrate the United States of America, while only 24 percent of Democrats shared that view. Democrats and independents were also 11 percentage points more likely than Republicans to dismiss Independence Day as just another ordinary day.
Traditional patriotic activities also divided sharply along party lines. Republicans showed significantly higher participation rates in wearing red, white and blue clothing (52 percent versus 20 percent for Democrats), attending fireworks displays (46 percent versus 28 percent), and going to parades or festivals (20 percent versus 9 percent).
Quarter of Democrats Skip Independence Day Entirely
Perhaps most tellingly, nearly one-quarter of Democrats and independents—24 percent—said they do not plan to celebrate Independence Day at all, compared with only 8 percent of Republicans who said the same.
The ideological split extends to fundamental views about America itself. Only 11 percent of Democrats believe the United States is the greatest country in the world, compared with 62 percent of Republicans—a staggering 51-point difference.
Broader Pattern of Declining Patriotism
These results align with other recent polling documenting falling patriotism and deepening ideological rifts among Americans, as New York Post reports.
A Fox News survey conducted ahead of America’s semiquincentennial found that 58 percent of voters believe the nation is divided by different values rather than united by shared ones (42 percent). Majorities of Democrats (62 percent) and independents (65 percent) see Americans as separated by different values, while Republicans are evenly split between those who perceive shared values (49 percent) and those who see division (50 percent).
With information from New York Post
