Most Prefer Working Together Over Fighting

The confrontive political standoff we have today is not what the great majority of us want.

This conclusion comes through once again, emphatically, in Our Common Purpose’s most recent public opinion survey conducted by Survey USA in January 2023.

It’s not that respondents are oblivious to present circumstances.  They were asked in the most recent survey to show on a sliding scale (ranging from -100 to +100) whether we are divided or united.  Their answers veered distinctly toward divided, averaging out at a -34.

Present circumstances, however, contrast sharply with what they want.  When asked to show on the same scale (-100 to +100) whether they wished us more divided or more united, their answers veered resoundingly in the other direction, averaging out at +76 for more united.

These sentiments are reflected in a variety of other measures as well as follow-up comments that reflect both the regret felt by respondents over what we have, and their wish for something better.  Listen, for instance, to these Voices of America:

 I totally agree we must be together rather than the condition we are in right now.

• Independent from Amherst, OH.

We need to unite and save the senseless energy we use fighting amongst one another and put it toward making our country a better place . . .

• Republican from New Boston, MI.

It seems like the entire world is caught up in partisanship.  I feel the USA needs to try to work together as an example to the world.

• Democrat from New Orleans, LA.