Americans' Dim View of Morals: A Global Perspective

0:00On March 6, a new Pew Research Center survey reveals that most Americans hold a dim view of their fellow citizens morals. 53% rate the ethics of people in the United States as bad, while just 47% see them as good. Democrats are even more pessimistic, with 60% calling morals poor, compared to 46% of Republicans. This marks the first time Pew has posed this question across 25 countries, and experts note partisan divides likely fuel the negativity. Meanwhile, views lit much brighter elsewhere, in places like Canada, Sweden, and India between 80% and 90% of people describe their own countrymen's morals positively. The poll also gazed opinions on nine behaviors, from abortion to pornography. Americans stand out as highly accepting of marijuana use and gambling, while contraception and divorce straw brought approval worldwide. Strongest disapproval hits extramarital affairs, unacceptable to 77% across all nations.

1:01These findings highlight deep divides in how we judge right and wrong today.