Over 8 in 10 Americans agree: We’re on “a path to fragmentation and self-interest”

Washington, D.C., July 15, 2022 --

In examining the words of two former presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, Americans more closely align with the “malaise” and “erosion of our confidence” outlined by Carter more than four decades ago, according to a new Ipsos poll provided exclusively to The American Prospect. For many Americans, our current time period is not “Morning in America;” instead, this data shows vast majorities align with quotes from 1979 that highlight the stagflation and deep pessimism that plagued the end of Carter’s presidency. Moreover, 85% of respondents agree that “we’ve followed a path to fragmentation and self-interest” (Carter’s words) over the last 40 years.

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From President Carter’s “Malaise” speech, July 15, 1979

From President Reagan’s first inaugural address, January 20, 1981

Detailed findings

1. As nearly 8 in 10 view the U.S. economy as headed off on the wrong track, an equal number acknowledge “the true problems of our nation are much deeper…than inflation or recession.”

• Overall, 83% of Americans say the country is generally off on the wrong track. Nearly that many (78%) feel that way specifically about the U.S. economy.
• Though Americans are deeply pessimistic in their economic outlook (along with the response to gun violence, abortion policy, and the ability to achieve the American dream), 78% agree with Carter that, “The true problems of our nation are much deeper – deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation or recession.”  

2. Forty-three years ago, Carter warned of “a turning point in our history,” with two paths to choose. At present, the vast majority of Americans say we have embarked on a path of fragmentation – the path Carter warned about in his speech – over the past four decades.

• When forced to choose, 85% say that, “We’ve followed a path to fragmentation and self-interest, where freedom is the idea that we have the right to grasp for ourselves some advantage over others” more closely describes what’s happened in America over the last 40 years. On the other hand, just 13% say, “We’ve followed a path of common purpose and the restoration of American values, working together” better portrays our current direction.
• Of the five statements from Carter’s speech tested in the survey – all surrounding the themes of an erosion of confidence and/or a loss of faith in institutions – at least two-thirds of Americans agree with every single one, ranging from 68% agreement to 78%.
• On the other hand, just two statements tested from Reagan’s inaugural address (out of five) resonate with a majority of Americans. For example, 60% agree that, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
• Only 43% agree with Reagan that, “We’re not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline” (23% disagree, and 29% neither agree nor disagree).   

About the Study

These are the findings of an Ipsos poll—provided exclusively to The American Prospect—conducted between July 8-10, 2022. For this study, a sample of 1,019 adults ages 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English.

The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.15. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on other sub-samples. In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult US population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population.

The data for the total sample were weighted to adjust for gender by age, race/ethnicity, education, Census region, metropolitan status, and household income. The demographic benchmarks came from the 2021 March Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS).

• Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18–29, 30–44, 45-59 and 60+)
• Race/Hispanic Ethnicity (White Non-Hispanic, Black Non-Hispanic, Other, Non-Hispanic, Hispanic, 2+ Races, Non-Hispanic)
• Education (Less than High School, High School, Some College, Bachelor or higher)
• Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
• Metropolitan status (Metro, non-Metro)
• Household Income (Under $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000+)

About Ipsos

Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

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