We disagree on a lot but overwhelmingly agree that we need to find common ground. Let s start together, here
USA TODAY is partnering with Public Agenda on Hidden Common Ground to explore topics on which Americans agree – and then bring them together.
USA TODAY
More than a year ago before the pandemic, before two presidential impeachments, before the most divisive election in a generation, before the Capitol attack we surveyed Americans about their thoughts on the lack of civility and partisan divides in our country.
We heard, not surprisingly, that divisiveness was a big problem not only for politicians but also for the rest of us, creating anxiety, depression and sadness.
Will Friedman and David Schleifer
Opinion contributors
Americans already this year have shuddered at scenes of a violent insurrection inside the nation s Capitol and shared a sigh of relief as George Floyd s killer was convicted. Just how divided are we as a nation? To make sense of it all, it helps to distinguish ways in which Americans are becoming more polarized and ways in which they are not.
The rampaging mob of Jan. 6 is an extreme manifestation of a broader phenomenon, the recent rise in “affective polarization” (cross-partisan animosity). Research by Pew shows that between 2016 and 2019, Republicans who said that Democrats are “more immoral” than other Americans increased from 47% to 55%. For their part, Democrats who said the same about Republicans rose from 35% to 47%.
Partisan animosity is undermining the ability of Americans to recognize common interests.
Will Friedman and David Schleifer
Opinion contributors
Americans already this year have shuddered at scenes of a violent insurrection inside the nation s Capitol and shared a sigh of relief as George Floyd s killer was convicted. Just how divided are we as a nation? To make sense of it all, it helps to distinguish ways in which Americans are becoming more polarized and ways in which they are not.
It seems naïve to talk about common ground in the wake of a violent insurrection inside the nation’s Capitol, but there is good reason to do so. To see why, it helps to distinguish the ways in which Americans are becoming more polarized and the ways in which they are not.
Hidden Common Ground poll: Americans want compromise but think political gridlock will worsen Phillip M. Bailey and Sarah Elbeshbishi, USA TODAY
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The good news: An overwhelming majority of Americans believe there is more common ground among the American people than is acknowledged.
The bad news? A growing number believe the nation s divide over a variety of critical issues will widen in the coming years.
Public Agenda and USA TODAY conducted a new round of Hidden Common Ground research in which we asked the American people what they think will help move the country beyond destructive partisan divisiveness, which virtually all Americans agree is a huge problem.
More than a year ago before the pandemic, before two presidential impeachments, before the most divisive election in a generation, before the Capitol attack we surveyed Americans about their thoughts on the lack of civility and partisan divides in our country.
We heard, not surprisingly, that divisiveness was a big problem not only for politicians but also for the rest of us, creating anxiety, depression and sadness.
Once the dust settled after the inauguration, we surveyed Americans again, asking some of the same questions as our inaugural Public Agenda/USA TODAY Hidden Common Ground survey in December 2019. The sentiment has not improved, with 14% reporting serious arguments with family or friends as a result of the partisanship and nearly 20% reporting depression, sadness or anxiety. And a growing share think the country will become more destructive in dealing with conflict over the next 10 years.