A new Economist/YouGov survey has found that nearly four in ten Democrats say they feel “ashamed” to be American, according to data released just weeks ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The poll reports that 26 percent of Democrats describe themselves as “somewhat ashamed” of being American, while 12 percent say they are “very ashamed.” Combined, that places the share of Democrats expressing some level of shame at 38 percent.
By comparison, the survey shows lower levels of national shame among the broader public. Among all U.S. adult citizens polled, 12 percent say they are “somewhat ashamed” and 8 percent say they are “very ashamed.”
The data also shows a range of sentiment within the Democratic Party. About 22 percent say they are “very proud” to be American, while 18 percent say they are “somewhat proud.” Another 22 percent report feeling “neither proud nor ashamed.”
Across the full sample, Americans overall remain largely positive about national identity, with 42 percent saying they are “very proud” and 18 percent “somewhat proud.”
As debates over national identity continue in the political sphere, the survey highlights the wide gap in how Americans across party lines view pride in their country heading into a milestone anniversary year.
