A growing number of Americans believe political violence in the US is increasingly more likely, according to a new survey.
The Aug. 2022 CBS News/YouGov poll finds that 64% of respondents believe the prospect of political violence will increase, up from 57% in Dec. 2021.
Eighty percent of the survey’s participants indicated that they believe the US is more divided now than during their parents’ generation — and just as many say tone and civility have deteriorated.
Asked about their thoughts on the future, more than half responded that for the next generation the US will be less of a democracy than today.
Only 19% said the country will be more of a democracy.
The poll, for which 2,085 adults were interviewed between Aug. 29-31, revealed a stark contrast between Democrats and Republicans’ perceptions of rights in America.
According to 56% of Republicans, too many people are asking for rights they do not deserve.
Meanwhile, 69% of Democrats said that people do not have rights they do deserve.
A whopping 65% of participants said they do not feel respected as people by American culture and society.
The survey also shed light on how partisans view one another, with 49% of Republicans and 47% of Democrats saying that they think of the other side as their enemy.
While the poll results paint a bleak picture of a nation deeply divided, there are a few silver linings, including a general opposition to violence: 86% say violence is always unacceptable.
Just over 40% of those polled agreed that US politics would be better if there were more women in elected office, more young people and more minorities.
Despite the growling animosity and distrust between Democrats and Republicans, the poll shows that the majority do not want to see the US split into “red” and “blue” nations.
Only 7% replied that they strongly favor the creation of two separate countries, while 57% said they strongly oppose this idea, and 19% somewhat oppose.
Of the more than 2,000 participants, only 19% identified themselves as being part of former president Donald Trump’s “MAGA movement” — while 27% said they were not sure what that is.
