A new study found significant differences between what Americans say publicly and what they privately believe about key political issues. According to a survey by the think tank Populace and polling firm YouGov, 61% of Americans admit to “self-silencing” on sensitive topics
Researchers used a mix of traditional polling and a list experiment method, which provides respondents with more anonymity. This allowed for a clearer picture of the gap between public statements and private beliefs.
One of the largest gaps was seen in trust in government. Publicly, 36% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans said they trust the government to tell the truth. However, privately, just 5% of Democrats and 2% of Republicans agreed with that statement.
The disparity is similar when it comes to trust in the media. While 42% of Democrats and 16% of Republicans said they trust the media publicly, only 9% of Democrats and 3% of Republicans shared that sentiment privately.
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On the issue of defunding the police, a movement often associated with younger and left-leaning Americans, public support is relatively low — just 28% of Gen Z and 27% of Democrats said they support the movement. Privately, the numbers drop even further, with only 2% of Gen Z and 3% of Democrats agreeing with the idea, similar to the 1% of Boomers and Republicans who also support it privately.
There are, however, some areas of agreement. Privately, 66% of Americans said more diversity would benefit the country, and 64% believe legal immigrants do more to help the country than harm it. Additionally, 58% privately support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Another significant gap was found on the topic of border security. While 85% of Republicans publicly support closing the U.S.-Mexico border, just 68% hold that view privately.
Todd Rose, CEO of Populace, warned that such gaps between public and private opinions could create social and political instability.
A NEW STUDY REVEALS A SIGNIFICANT GAP BETWEEN WHAT AMERICANS SAY PUBLICLY AND WHAT THEY PRIVATELY BELIEVE ABOUT MAJOR POLITICAL ISSUES.
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY POPULACE AND YOU-GOV, FOUND THAT 61-PERCENT OF AMERICANS ADMIT TO ‘SELF-SILENCING’… AND KEEPING THEIR TRUE OPINIONS ON SENSITIVE TOPICS TO THEMSELVES.
36-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS AND 14-PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS SAY PUBLICLY THAT THEY TRUST THE GOVERNMENT TO TELL THE TRUTH. BUT PRIVATELY… ONLY 5-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS AND 2-PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT.
THE SAME GOES FOR MEDIA TRUST. PUBLICLY… 42-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS AND 16-PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS SAY THEY TRUST THE MEDIA. PRIVATELY, THAT DROPS TO JUST 9-PERCENT AND 3-PERCENT, RESPECTIVELY.
THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWED THAT 28-PERCENT OF GEN Z AND 27-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS PUBLICLY SAY THEY SUPPORT DEFUNDING THE POLICE, BUT PRIVATELY, JUST 2-PERCENT OF GEN Z AND 3-PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS DO. THAT’S COMPARABLE TO THE 1-PERCENT OF BOTH BOOMERS AND REPUBLICANS WHO PRIVATELY SUPPORT IT.
AMERICANS, HOWEVER, SHOW SOME CONSENSUS ON OTHER HOT BUTTON TOPICS. PRIVATELY, 66-PERCENT SAY MORE DIVERSITY WOULD BENEFIT THE COUNTRY, 64-PERCENT BELIEVE LEGAL IMMIGRANTS HELP MORE THAN THEY HURT, AND 58-PERCENT SUPPORT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.
BUT THERE’S NEARLY A 20-POINT GAP ON THE ISSUE OF CLOSING THE BORDER WITH MEXICO. PUBLICLY, 85-PERCENT OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT CLOSING THE BORDER, BUT PRIVATELY, ONLY 68-PERCENT AGREE.
THE CEO OF POPULACE WARNS THAT THESE GAPS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OPINION CAN CREATE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY, SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY LED TO UNREST AND EVEN REVOLUTIONS.
ONE THING WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS AMERICANS AREN’T ALWAYS SAYING WHAT THEY REALLY THINK… WHICH COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR SHAPING PUBLIC POLICY.
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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