Test Your Assumptions

Every figure below comes from a published national survey. Opening this section reveals the answers.

1. What percentage of Americans say family is the most important thing in their lives?

   78%

   Across all backgrounds, 78% of Americans say spending time with family is "very important" to a good life.

   Source: GallupRead the full value

2. What percentage of Americans consider freedom of speech essential to their sense of freedom?

   92%

   An overwhelming 92% of Americans — left, right, and center — consider freedom of speech essential.

   Source: Pew Research CenterRead the full value

3. What percentage of Americans believe hard work is "very important" to getting ahead?

   73%

   Americans believe in effort — 73% say hard work is very important to getting ahead, far higher than the global median.

   Source: Pew Research CenterRead the full value

4. What percentage of Americans support investing in safe, walkable neighborhoods?

   87%

   Across partisan and geographic lines, 87% of Americans support the goal of healthy, safe, walkable communities.

   Source: Livable NY InitiativeRead the full value

5. What percentage of Americans support increased investment in public K-12 education?

   84%

   From rural towns to urban centers — 84% of Americans support increased investment in public education.

   Source: PDK PollRead the full value

6. What percentage of Americans believe the government should negotiate lower drug prices?

   88%

   A striking 88% of Americans agree the government should negotiate prescription drug prices — one of the most bipartisan issues in the country.

   Source: KFF Health Tracking PollRead the full value

7. What percentage of Americans identify the right to vote as a core "truly American" value?

   93%

   93% of Americans see the right to vote as essential to being American — this is one of the most universally held civic beliefs.

   Source: PRRIRead the full value

8. What percentage of Americans say there is more common ground than media and politicians portray?

   71%

   71% of Americans already sense what this site proves — that we have far more in common than the headlines suggest.

   Source: Public AgendaRead the full value

9. What percentage of Americans express pride and respect for military service members?

   90%

   Over 90% of Americans express pride in military troops — one of the most unifying values in the country.

   Source: Pew Research CenterRead the full value

10. What percentage of Americans view treating all people with dignity as personally "very important"?

    77%

    77% of Americans — across every demographic — say treating all people with dignity is personally very important to them.

    Source: PRRI American Values SurveyRead the full value