Americans split on American exceptionalism, poll shows

AP Photo/Cliff Owen

The Republican presidential candidates would have people believe that President Obama doesn't believe in "American exceptionalism," but it turns out that voters themselves are split on whether they think American culture is superior, a new study shows.

Just under half, 49 percent, of Americans agree with the statement, "Our people are not perfect, but our culture is superior to others," according to a survey from the Pew Research Center. Forty-six percent of Americans say they disagree with the statement.

The percentage of Americans who think their nation's culture is superior has declined in the past decade, according to Pew -- in 2007, 55 percent called American culture superior, while about 60 percent did so in 2002.

Skepticism about American exceptionalism is growing among both genders, as well as among different age groups. Still, there are differences of opinion among different groups of people.

For instance, six in 10 Americans ages 50 or older say American culture is superior, while just 37 percent of Americans younger than 30 agree. Those who did not graduate from college are more likely than those who did graduate from college to call American culture superior by a difference of 9 percent.

Additionally, conservatives are far more likely to call American culture superior at 63 percent, compared to just 45 percent of moderates and 34 percent of liberals.

That may come as no surprise, given the rhetoric about American exceptionalism in the Republican presidential primary. Newt Gingrich even starred in a movie released by a conservative organization earlier this year about American exceptionalism.

Republicans have regularly accused the president of failing to recognize America's greatness. Even though Mr. Obama has said in no unclear terms that he believes in American exceptionalism, Rick Santorum flatly told CBSNews.com earlier this year that Mr. Obama "doesn't believe America is exceptional."

The GOP also has a tendency to characterize the president's policies as "European." And while that's of course a matter of opinion, the change in attitude about American exceptionalism does put the U.S. more in line with European beliefs -- 47 percent of Germans think their culture is superior, while 44 percent of Spaniards think their country is the best (fewer British or French citizens are inclined to call their respective countries the best).

[Sipractce]

America will continue to be an exceptional nation, provided we are all willing to be honest and look at the mirror with candor. We have been a nation living off ever growing number of "cheaper" products, for which we have not contributed other than as consumers of huge appetiite and borrowing more, when we can not afford them. We have corporations promoting the idea " Pay less, live better" even if that means your neighbor who did the work is laid off to cut costs, so that you can pay a litlle less. Our giant stores are happy to give us a few cents less in price and ask us to self check out to get that lower price. Nobody stops to say, "forget the self check out; take another 5 bucks from me and put some one to work behind the check out counter". Then there are the CEOs, who are happy to make easy money by going out gaining sales of standard products we used to make for years, with no passion to push their companies to produce and market exceptional products every one wants across the globe. Whne the President points out this obvious weakness in the CEOs of the companies, he is pillaried as being disparaging about the the American public.
At the end we - the American people - will get what we deserve. This is true for any one and in any nation. So, are we willing ro challenge our American Exceptionalism and show it in our words and action or are we willing to mereely bait each other and pit one against the other. Yes, the leaders can do something about this, but at the end in the democracy the people are the ultimate leaders of their destiny!

[noel90210]

we worry too much about what other countries think. We were a Christian nation and that's why are country has been blessed all these years. Now that we've turned our backs on God, our country is failing.

[RobAla]

If we don't stop spending this nation into the ground there will not be any exceptional-ism left in the United States.

Some seem to think we can tax ourselves out of this mess. Look at Europe. It has attempted high taxes and massive benefits, and Europe is on the verge of going bankrupt. California and Detroit have tried the same thing, and they both are going bankrupt. I hate to rain on the parade, but we are broke. We have to stop looking at what we want the federal government to do for us. There is no money. WE NEED TO GROW UP, AND WE NEED TO DO IT IN A HURRY!

Most people would love to have something for nothing, but it doesn't work that way. Each of us has a wish list of things we would like the federal government to do for us. The problem is that there isn't enough money. There isn't enough money to continue spending like we are if we robbed the so called "1%" of every dime they have earned.

The spending has gone out of control, and unless it is seriously reigned in the United States will collapse economically. This is real. This isn't a video game or a movie. Unless we seriously reduce the size and scope of the federal government, the nation will collapse under the weight of an unbelievably huge national debt. Then what will people do? A smaller functioning federal government beats total collapse any day of the week.

The party is over. We have spent the well dry, and it is time to live according to our means. This is real. The games have to stop. We have to seriously make huge cuts in the size and scope of the federal government, unless we are all OK with a national collapse of the greatest nation the world has ever seen. I pray to God that Americans still care about the future of this nation, and about the future we hand to our children. The self serving party has to come to an end.

[Progress4USA]

Sure the U.S. is exceptional...we're also the biggest suckers on the planet. We give more away then any other country on earth and sadly get dirt thrown in our faces on a routine basis.

[fxr60]

I lived in Europe a while and there is NO WAY any country is better than the USA! They have socialized medicene that takes a year or two to see a specialist, long waiting lines to see a doctor. Years behind on modern appliances,ect. We have the best military and most people are the "Salt of the Earth" type of people! Won't get your hand or head chopped off here for NOT agreeing with the goverment. The Anarchist and troublemakers that are the Wallstreet Protesters destroying property and fighting the police are in the minority NOT the majority. Over all I'll take the USA anyday!!!!!

[stupa5]

No Way! Every Country & it's People have great accomplishments& screw-ups!...Even Togo!

[janeteleanor]

LOVE AMERICA!!!!!!!!

[luadda22]

by busterdawggy November 18, 2011 1:32 PM EST
education has been cut to the bone, and we absolutely balk at paying a dime more in taxes. What kind of culture do we live in? Not a first rate one, that is for sure.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So much of the rest of your post was just wrong, but "cut education"?? The only country in the world that spends more is Switzerland. Education spending the the US has skyrocketed over the last 40 years, yet scores in math, science, and reading have not changed. Switzerland is 3rd and the US is 25th in math, WHY is their spending working and ours is not???

[Zann-Zel]

by 92F150 November 18, 2011 12:46 PM EST
As soon as those in charge of an "ism" believe they are the best, complacency drives it below average because there is no motive to improve.
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Good Point.
I say its time to improve.

[OrangPuteh]

by brianbwb2015 November 18, 2011 12:07 PM EST
Wrong, I personally know billionaires (note the "b")who started with next to nothing, in countries around the world. In fact, I'm hanging with some of them tomorrow, in Bali.
_______________________________


Hi, Brian. Are you at Bob Hasan's?