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TOMMY NATION POLITICS: “Stand by for Change…”
Most Americans believe our political system needs changes. Upwards of 85% of respondents say there is a need for major changes, including 42% who say our political system needs to be completely reformed. This sentiment holds true across party lines, with both 88% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents and 83% of Republican and Republican-leaning Independents in support of change. Around half of Democrats (47%) want complete reform of the political system as compared to just 38% of Republicans.
The desire for political reform also cuts across many of the other dividing lines in our country. While in many of the other countries surveyed, desire for political reform was tempered by how respondents viewed the economy — with people satisfied with the economy less likely to support political reform — this pattern does not extend to the U.S. Nearly equal numbers of economic pessimists and economic optimists favor political changes — 87% versus 82%, respectively. This gap in support is the smallest of any of the countries Pew surveyed.
Similarly, both Americans who rate our pandemic response positively and Americans who rate it negatively also support political reform at near-equal levels. 83% of Americans who approve of our COVID-19 response also support political reform. Meanwhile, 88% of Americans who do not approve of our pandemic response support reform — a gap of only five percentage points. Again, this gap is the smallest of all the countries surveyed.
No matter which way you cut it, Americans of all political persuasions and views want to see political reform. Even those who are generally satisfied with other aspects of American life (like the economy) are overwhelmingly in favor of changes. In a society as divided as ours seemingly is, this kind of consensus is rare.
At the same time, Americans are not confident our politics can be effectively reformed.
Even as Americans are nearly unanimous in their desire for political reform, most don’t believe our political system can be effectively changed. 58% of Americans have little confidence that reform can be effective, which is more than twice the number of Americans who think the system can change.
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By Thomas SaulsberryMost Americans believe our political system needs changes. Upwards of 85% of respondents say there is a need for major changes, including 42% who say our political system needs to be completely reformed. This sentiment holds true across party lines, with both 88% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents and 83% of Republican and Republican-leaning Independents in support of change. Around half of Democrats (47%) want complete reform of the political system as compared to just 38% of Republicans.
The desire for political reform also cuts across many of the other dividing lines in our country. While in many of the other countries surveyed, desire for political reform was tempered by how respondents viewed the economy — with people satisfied with the economy less likely to support political reform — this pattern does not extend to the U.S. Nearly equal numbers of economic pessimists and economic optimists favor political changes — 87% versus 82%, respectively. This gap in support is the smallest of any of the countries Pew surveyed.
Similarly, both Americans who rate our pandemic response positively and Americans who rate it negatively also support political reform at near-equal levels. 83% of Americans who approve of our COVID-19 response also support political reform. Meanwhile, 88% of Americans who do not approve of our pandemic response support reform — a gap of only five percentage points. Again, this gap is the smallest of all the countries surveyed.
No matter which way you cut it, Americans of all political persuasions and views want to see political reform. Even those who are generally satisfied with other aspects of American life (like the economy) are overwhelmingly in favor of changes. In a society as divided as ours seemingly is, this kind of consensus is rare.
At the same time, Americans are not confident our politics can be effectively reformed.
Even as Americans are nearly unanimous in their desire for political reform, most don’t believe our political system can be effectively changed. 58% of Americans have little confidence that reform can be effective, which is more than twice the number of Americans who think the system can change.