Solidarity In The Face Of Coronavirus: 90% Say We're All In This Together, According To More in Common Survey
Political divisions remain deep, but inspired by the heroism of front line workers, Americans are finding a sense of unity
Apr 03, 2020, 06:07 ET
NEW YORK, April 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of tense division, the coronavirus crisis is bringing Americans together, with fewer Americans seeing the country as deeply divided, and many more seeing the country as unified, according to a new survey of 2,000 Americans completed last weekend.
Ninety percent of Americans now agree more with the statement that "we are all in it together" rather than "it's everyone for themselves" – compared to just 63% in 2018. The percentage of Americans who regard the country as "very divided" has dropped from 62% in 2018 to just 22 percent.
The findings come from a YouGov survey commissioned by the nonpartisan nonprofit, More in Common, which produced the 2018 report, Hidden Tribes: A Study of America's Polarized Landscape.
The study also found that only 20% say that the divisions between Republicans and Democrats "seem less important now", indicating Americans are finding unity outside the political realm.
"For most Americans, this is not about President Trump or Congress – it's a change in how Americans are valuing each other. They now see many of their fellow Americans as heroes, especially nurses and doctors, nursing home staff, and grocery store employees," said Dan Vallone, More in Common's national director.
Americans are expressing gratitude and a change in how they think about people in frontline jobs during the crisis:
- 84% say nurses and doctors should be regarded as heroes.
- 71% say the same for police, firefighters and emergency medical teams.
- 76% of Americans say that they are more grateful for grocery store staff and 65% say they deserve to be regarded as heroes.
"While these findings are encouraging, there is nothing inevitable about this new trajectory," said Stephen Hawkins, More in Common's research director. "As the pandemic worsens, whether we come together or fall apart will depend on steady leadership, clear values, and considerate choices by all of us."
About More in Common
More in Common strives to build communities and a society that are resilient to threats of polarization and social division. To conduct the research, More in Common partnered with YouGov, a global public opinion and polling company.
Contact: Stephen Hawkins, 404-451-4586
[email protected]
SOURCE More in Common
