Americans Have Shifted Dramatically on What Values Matter Most

It is interesting that support for nationalism is still popular with the older generations alongside their support for diversity, even after nationalism has been co-opted by groups hostile to diversity.

The younger generations see "I support the USA" as "I support the policies of the current administration", simply because that's how said supporters often identify themselves.

I think if you asked the younger generations if they still believed in the principles of freedom and democracy that the US represents that they would be largely in favor of that stance, but feel that the current government is not upholding those ideals in a way that they approve of.

"WSJ/NBC News telephone poll conducted of 1,000 adults from Aug. 10–14; margin of error +/- 3.1 percentage points"

This is all I need to know that this study doesn't have any worth.

The required sample size for statistical significance is at least 8 times larger than this.

I can tell you why "patriotism, religion and having children" have never been values for me (32 yr old)... Specifically, two are very closely related:

Religion - I don't buy it. I never have, even from a young age. The idea of a mystical all powerful being floating in the sky watching us has always seemed absurd. And frankly, science has really done a number on my ability to believe in traditional religions. Do I believe some higher-being may exist? Sure. Do I believe in an afterlife? No, I don't think anything points to that existing. Maybe it does, but likely it doesn't. But trust me I understand how this lack of a philosophy for life has sucked a lot of community, and to some extent, love for life itself, right out of it.

Children - If there is no afterlife, then what IS the point of this life? Seriously? Why form bonds, and relationships, and become close with people... if only to die and for it all to vanish? Of course since I'm alive, I take every chance to form relationships and bonds. But I don't believe in continuing this depressing cycle. I don't believe in this "system" of pulling someone into the world, only for them to have to say goodbye to everything they've built and everyone they love. I disagree with it at the core of my being, and I've never had a "religion" to help me think otherwise.

So yea... having kids, settling down, religion... that's all gone for me.

Members of the younger generation (myself included) have little experience with administrations who demonstrate their fealty to the abstract ideals of the USA. We have, with few exceptions, not been led by people who have the US populace -- in contrast to its economy and hegemony -- at the forefront of their minds. NAFTA, and globalization more broadly, and its effects has progressed to the point where the promises of prosperity in the age of unfettered trade should have shown some signs of success at the personal level by now -- and yet, here we are. We see and hear about other parts of the world which are harmed by these policies. The authorities on the matter, however, explain it away by pointing at GDP growth curves. But these great results aren't reflected in our lives: burdened by debt and historically low net worths, we've lost faith in those who came before us who keep telling us it's all part of the game. Not so if we were born 70 years ago.

To a large extent, I'd say that this has resulted in a cynical and rather extreme position of "actions speak louder than words". Those who represent the USA, being elected officials in keeping with the mythos of the modern representative democracy, are doing a poor job of showing their decency, if there is any hidden inside to begin with. The notable exception is of course Bernie Sanders, who, even if somewhat ineffective during his time in office, was and is steadfast, honest, and genuinely caring about the people individually and as a whole. He demonstrates his alignment with the people's needs far more than anyone else in the political field today, even as hamstrung as he was, aside from maybe Elizabeth Warren. The rest are opportunists, lying through their teeth and brushing off serious blemishes on their record to their own detriment. See: Bernie's policy platforms 4 years ago and how much is reflected in nearly all candidates' platforms today.

We're pretty peeved that this blatant deceit is lost on the older generations. From our (my) perspective, the USA has always been shoddy and the people haven't cared about grave injustices as long as their lot in life is stable. Only a few shining stars have risen in those 250-ish years that have made any real progress on ethical issues.

With all due respect, I did not vote for the president but now find myself more aligned with the Republicans than any 2020 Democrat. Its a smear that they are anti-Diversity. A lot of the young men I know feel disenfranchised in a system that does not value them even though they are not in any positions of power. All are sympathetic to historical injustices and see the President doing things like First Step Act and Opportunity Zones as legislation that disproportionately benefits minority groups, but does not detract from other groups. I think he's brash and unpolite, but a lot of people I know see this as fighting back against an onslaught that is one-sided and doesn't get called out.