This newest Gallup poll suggests we may not be seeing as many red, white and blue flags flying this Fourth of July weekend. Fewer Americans than ever are “proud” to be American, a new Gallup poll finds – a 16-year record.
Here’s the not-so-patriotic news.
As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, 52% of U.S. adults say they are "extremely proud" to be Americans, a new low in Gallup's 16-year trend. Americans' patriotism spiked after 9/11, peaking at 70% in 2003, but has declined since, including an eight-percentage-point drop in early 2005 and a five-point drop since 2013.
It’s hard not to connect this grim trend with President Obama’s White House tenure. While the trend did drop significantly in the years between 2004 and 2006, when President George W. Bush was still in office, Obama did little to inspire Americans. Even after his whole “Hope and Change” campaign, the numbers didn’t budge.
Our stagnant economy, tendency to place correctness over national security, and fading international image thanks to our capitulating to extremist regimes may help explain why Americans are not wild about their country right now.
Can a new president and some new policies turn this trend around?