Background

This is a quick pilot of an experimental manipulation of values kept or broken.

Participants were asked to list values of the US on paper and weigh them, as in the correlational study. Then, they were told to think about the value that they thought was the most important: how is it kept vs. how is it broken, in America.

Then, they completed measures of anti-establishment, support for change, trust in institutions, voting intentions.

Attention Check

But first, let’s exclude participants who failed a very simple attention check.

df_bsc %>% 
  group_by(att_pass) %>% 
  summarise(N = n()) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(Perc = round(100*(N/sum(N)),2)) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
att_pass N Perc
0 2 0.97
1 204 99.03

Alright, that leaves us with 204. Cool.

Demographics

Race

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(race) %>% 
  summarise(N = n()) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(Perc = round(100*(N/sum(N)),2)) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
race N Perc
American Indian or Alaska Native 2 0.98
Asian 22 10.78
Black or African American 16 7.84
Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin 5 2.45
White 147 72.06
multiracial 12 5.88

Gender

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  mutate(gender = ifelse(is.na(gender) | gender == "","other",gender)) %>% 
  group_by(gender) %>% 
  summarise(N = n()) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(Perc = round(100*(N/sum(N)),2)) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
gender N Perc
man 115 56.37
other 3 1.47
woman 86 42.16

Age

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  summarise(age_mean = round(mean(age,na.rm = T),2),
            age_sd = round(sd(age,na.rm = T),2)) %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
age_mean age_sd
35.79 9.85

Education

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(edu) %>% 
  summarise(N = n()) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(Perc = round(100*(N/sum(N)),2)) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
edu N Perc
noHS 3 1.47
GED 52 25.49
2yearColl 26 12.75
4yearColl 84 41.18
MA 28 13.73
PHD 10 4.90
NA 1 0.49

Income

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = income)) +
  geom_bar() +
  theme(panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
        panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
        panel.background = element_blank(),
        axis.ticks = element_blank(),
        axis.line = element_line(color = "grey66"),
        axis.text.y = element_text(color = "black"),
        axis.text.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold"),
        axis.title.x = element_blank(),
        axis.title.y = element_blank()) +
  coord_flip()

Politics

Ideology

Participants were asked about the extent to which they subscribe to the following ideologies on a scale of 1-7 (select NA if unfamiliar): Conservatism, Liberalism, Democratic Socialism, Libertarianism, Progressivism.

means <- df_bsc_elg %>%
  dplyr::select(PID,ideo_con:ideo_prog) %>% 
  pivot_longer(-PID,
               names_to = "ideo",
               values_to = "score") %>% 
  filter(!is.na(score)) %>% 
  group_by(ideo) %>% 
  summarise(score = mean(score)) %>% 
  ungroup()

df_bsc_elg %>%
  dplyr::select(PID,ideo_con:ideo_prog) %>% 
  pivot_longer(-PID,
               names_to = "ideo",
               values_to = "score") %>% 
  filter(!is.na(score)) %>%  
  ggplot() +
  geom_density(aes(x = score), fill = "lightblue") +
  scale_x_continuous(limits = c(1,7),
                     breaks = seq(1,7,1)) +
  geom_vline(data = means,mapping = aes(xintercept = score),
             color = "black",
             linetype = "dashed",
             size = 1.1) +
  theme(panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
        panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
        panel.background = element_blank(),
        axis.ticks = element_blank(),
        axis.line = element_line(color = "grey66"),
        axis.text.y = element_text(color = "black"),
        axis.text.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold")) +
  facet_wrap(~ideo,nrow = 2)

Party ID

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(party_id) %>% 
  summarise(N = n()) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(Perc = round(100*(N/sum(N)),2)) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
party_id N Perc
Democrat 70 34.31
Independent 69 33.82
Republican 65 31.86

Vote in 2020

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(vote_2020) %>% 
  summarise(N = n()) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(Perc = round(100*(N/sum(N)),2)) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  arrange(desc(N)) %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
vote_2020 N Perc
Joe Biden 82 40.20
Donald Trump 70 34.31
I did not vote 38 18.63
Third-party candidate 14 6.86

Vote in 2024

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(vote_2024) %>% 
  summarise(N = n()) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  mutate(Perc = round(100*(N/sum(N)),2)) %>% 
  ungroup() %>% 
  arrange(desc(N)) %>% 
  kbl() %>% 
  kable_styling(bootstrap_options = "hover",
                full_width = F,
                position = "left")
vote_2024 N Perc
Joe Biden 86 42.16
Donald Trump 63 30.88
Other 23 11.27
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  23 11.27
Jill Stein 6 2.94
Cornel West 3 1.47

Measures

Open responses

We ask that you think about the ways in which [top_value] is carried out in American society today, regardless of the party in power or the short-term fluctuations in politics.

In 2-3 sentences, please describe the ways in which the U.S. is [NOT] living up to its promise of [top_value].

cond value_rank1 how_text
kept liberty In the United States today, liberty is upheld through various means such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, allowing individuals to express themselves and pursue their beliefs without fear of repression.
broken Freedom of choice It often feels like our choices are limited. One good example would be the political system. It’s either we vote for one bad guy, or a bad guy that is slightly less bad than the other bad guy.
broken Power There is no division of power in the USA, the people at the top through money and power remain there while the middle suffers.
broken Freedom from religion Religion is creeping into everything it was suppose to not be a part of separation of church and state for example, is creeping into schools and politics.
broken Basic human rights The US is not living up to its promise of basic human rights because certain protections are being threatened by the Supreme Court, such as abortion, the right to marry for all, and other civil laws that are promoted in other Western, democratic societies. The US is also not living up to its promise of basic human rights because discrimination, violence, and hate are at an all time high on social media and in real life.
kept freedom America is a land where you can pretty much do anything as long as you arent hurting anyone else. You can have the freedom to move up in the world and take every opportunity provided to you
broken Strength The US does not do a sufficient job maintaining relations with other nations. This, in turn, makes us appear weak and unwilling to resolve conflict, especially if we, as a nation, are not involved.
kept freedom the ability to say what you want and express yourself without fear of prosecution by the government.
broken Freedom of speach At times the media appears to miniplate the context of the news they put out there. Additionally, depending on the agenda, we don’t always hear the truth.
kept Freedom Americans can live anywhere, can drive across the country all night for days if they want. Americans can take any job they want and protest most places.
kept honor I think when we support countries being taken over or oppressed such as those in WWII and now in Ukraine…we are living up to the honor of being decent. Same thing goes for we offer aid for those who suffer from famine
broken corporate profits It’s hard to think of anything that doesn’t support corporate profits at the moment. Some states have pushed back with workers rights, and a few recently have dropped being Right to Work States. California just raised minimum wages for fast food workers. But in the end the corporations will win.
kept democracy Voter registration is actively encouraged and promoted throughout society, some politicians are vocal about the integrity of the elections process, there are less barriers than in the past to register to vote
broken freedom The way the media treats Republicans is nothing short of disastrous. People’s lives are ruined because of things they said, intentional or not. This disproportionally affects Republicans.
broken Freedom Sometimes there are limits imposed on freedom. For the most part, there is freedom, but some groups are working hard to take that away.
broken Right to Bear Arms The U.S. is putting limits on guns. The process is getting harder to own and carry a gun. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
broken Freedom Freedom takes many forms in the U.S. It is a core value of the country, but it is not living up to its promise. People are restricted from some freedoms that they should have, and some groups don’t have the freedoms or advantages of others.
broken separation of powers The supreme court seems to go with the politics of the reasons they were nominated by the president and uphold partisan beliefs. The Congress is also very partisan and seems to do things depending on their relationship to the president’s political party.
broken justice There are a lot of people in prison that do not deserve to be there and there are also alot of guilty people who are free.
kept Life The US is giving people a better chance at life and making the best one than any other country really is. The United States lets you live a life where you can chase your dreams and try to achieve them with the minimal amount of interference.
kept Money American society is focused on Money to the detriment of anyone not making Money. The chase of power that comes with Industry will lead to sacrificing the long-term potential for short-sighted goals.
broken equality The obvious one is income equality, but there’s a lot of regional inequality based on other matters because of differing state laws. For example, some states are going out of their way to turn women or people of color or LGBTQ+ people into second-class citizens or worse.
broken Freedom of movement Interstate commerce can be limited by which items are legal in one state and not another. These items are typically illegal federally, so it would make more sense for the federal government to either override the state’s laws that violate the federal law and enforce it, or legalize everything on a federal scale so that commerce can move freely.
kept Openness We are living up to our promise of openness by continuing to expand immigration policies. We are also very accepting of refugees from war-torn nations, in spite of having little to no infrastructure to support them. It seems like we want to help and are just not that adept at it yet.
kept Colonialism By continuing to operate on stolen land. This territory is not native to Europeans, it was taken from the natives and then “developed” in a way that is destructive to our planet.
kept Liberty American citizens have many rights and the government can’t impeded or restrict such as speech, votes, and demonstrate.
broken freedom of speech Certain speakers of particular political penchants are shut down by students at colleges and universities.This censorship is tolerated by the colleges’ administrations. In truth, more than any other place, institutions of higher learning should be open to hearing all sorts of viewpoints.
broken safety Its not living up to the promise of safety due to current events. There is a drug problem in the us that brings crime. There is also not enough policing
kept Freedom People are able to live out their dreams if they want to achieve it. They are not beholden to marry this person or that person. Nothing is set in tone for them. They can be what they want to be or choose to do something else. We can eat. Drink. Talk to who we want.
broken Freedom The United States is taking away reproductive freedom from many women in the form of limiting IVF, birth control, and access to abortion. Many people are so burdened by debt that they are unable to live freely.
kept freedom The united states lives up to it’s promise of freedom by having less regulations on things like business and guns than other countries. It also has in some ways less taxes and more ways to advance in life than most first world countries.
kept democracy I think that the members of congress care too much about their own agendas and limit the work that they actually do for the people that they represent. While it is their democratic right to do so, I think it hinders the voices of the American people who don’t have a spot in the big chair.
kept independence We are doing our best to mitigate the rise of Christian nationalism that threatens the welfare of anyone who isn’t White, Trump-licking, imaginary-friend having, and morally vapid.
broken life We are not helping those in need with health struggles. It has become unaffordable for most. And it has caused a lot of strain on the system
kept independence They do not have restrictions on certain laws. They still allow guns. They are not as strict as other countries.
broken limited government The federal government is now incredibly involved in every aspect of businesses of American life. The government’s budget is enormous and there are onerous laws in nearly every industry. The government has gotten way too large and powerful.
kept Power The US is amending the human rights to better serve those that are in power. The US is also trying to increase its economic standing against the rest of the world, although, it is failing.
kept Freedom I think it is beingn undermined little by little but compared to other countries, it still holds true. Also, I believe the notion of freedom is ingrained in our heads but it is a relative concept
broken freedom US citizens are taxed to death in this country. The government is constantly keeping an eye on citizens to make sure they are paying all of their taxes. Also, I feel that corporations and the government tend to overreach and spy on citizens.
broken Democracy Some ways that the U.S. is not living up to its promise of democracy is in how politics are being run today. Corporations and the wealthy have significant influence on politics, often to the detriment of those not as well off. The U.S. also supports various authoritarian governments around the world, and has too often intervened in another nations democratic process.
broken Independence I believe that we could do better with our promise of independence by staying out of international affairs and wars that do not inherently involve us. By tethering ourselves to these issues, we not only make ourselves more of a target but we make ourselves seem more like a meddlesome middle man rather than a strong, independent country.
broken Freedom Some members of the government take this right away from us Americans. We are supposed to have freedom in everything. This is typically caused by corruption from both political sides.
broken independence There are a couple of aspects. First, a variety of people rely upon the government and subsequently are not independent because they cannot succeed on their own for a variety of reasons. On a global scale, while we are somewhat independent, many countries rely upon the US for action and support. As such, our independence is limited because we have to consider others with every decision that we make.
kept freedom Currently the US is living up to it’s promise of freedom by letting people be whoever they want. One can do whatever job and and date whomever they want.
kept freedom we have many freedoms in american society, speech, religion, work where ever we want marry who ever you want.
broken liberty Ever since 9/11 our liberties have been trampled upon in the name of “safety”. We are no longer at liberty to move about freely and feel as if we are not being constantly monitored. There is obviously a shift that happened where we are all now basically treated as if we are domestic terrorists until proven otherwise.
broken equality Even though our society is still behind in equality between the genders and ethnicities, we still see people fight to achieve it. We see the feminist movement fighting for equality between men and women. We see the LGBQT, BLM, and other minority groups fighting to be recognized as equals to have equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunties as others.
broken life There are no government systems in place to make sure sick people are taken care of. By privatizing healthcare, often US citizens do not have access to medication that they need to stay healthy and alive. These drugs and procedure costs are typically more expensive than a family can afford if they can’t afford insurance.
kept pride / patriotism The us lives up to this by its love for the american flag and holidays like fourth of July. People are proud to be american and make it known.
kept equality I don’t that they are living up to the promise. There are huge disparities in how people are treated and whose opinion matters, depending on who has political power at the moment. The court system tries to be equal, but personal biases still have a huge impact.
kept freedom Americans are free to do as they please for the most part. I am able to do lots of things that people in other countries cannot. I am free to live my life as I please and make lots of individual decisions.
broken Right to vote Gerrymandering dilutes votes. Demanding photo ID before voting disenfranchises a portion of the populace. The false allegations of rampant voter fraud used to disenfranchise segments of the population.
kept liberty people typically have liberty to live and work where and how they choose, as long as they do not cause harm to others
broken Freedom It is not allowing people to think for themselves. They don’t want the American citizens to do anything without government approval.
kept freedom of speech I think that it is carried out by allowing people to think and say what they want in most instances. You get to be free to share your thoughts with others and not really have to cater to an audience or face too many consequences.
kept Freedom People are generally free to live how they want to live in the US. For example, they can practice any religion, pursue and career or education they want, live wherever they want etc.
kept Freedom! It is an amazing privilege we have that we take for granted. I don’t think people realize how lucky we are to be able to criticize our government. Speak open and freely. Move freely about the country and work in any field we choose. We have the freedom of choice.
kept Capitalism For good or bad, the US is committed to Capitalism through the free-market economy and the great power that people can find there. America is built on the idea that anyone can make money through work and there are countless opportunities to see that idea through.
kept Freedom Freedom to do whatever you want and how you want to do it as long as it only affects you as an individual and doesn’t affect other individuals rights.
kept Freedom We are able to do whatever we desire and say whatever. We are free to do our own choices and to live with them.
kept Democracy Democracy carried out American society well because it allowed people to vote their own choices on the type of laws, decisions, and government to have. The United States is currently and always trying to make a good changing system for the people.
kept Freedom We allow citizens to express their religious and political beliefs. We uphold due process in our courts.
kept Pursuit of happiness We have many freedoms compared to many other countries, such as freedom of how to live our lives, choices we make, etc., so the U.S. lives up to the pursuit of happiness in that way for sure. We get to choose where we make our home anywhere in the country, which helps also. And there is no civil war at least.
kept Freedom I think that most of the things that were promised were mostly kept if not all of them were kept. I can follow whatever religion I want and am allowed to do whatever I want, but it’s sometimes restraining.
broken Freedom America is not about freedom, it is about suffering. They let people live here, and then make it hard for them to survive. We have to rely on the government for basic things, that is not freedom.
broken Freedom of speech It depends on which side you are on. If you are a liberal you have freedom of speech. If you are a conservative and you say something you are either racist or a hater. So Freedom of Speech is not for everyone in the United States.
kept freedom I, as an american, have the right to wake up and chose to do whatever I want. I can go to school to study whatever type of profession I want. I have freedom to pick what kinds of foods I want to eat and what clothing I want to wear.
kept freedom Freedom is upheld through various channels such as freedom of speech, allowing individuals to express diverse viewpoints.
broken Freedom I think that there are a variety of ways we do not fix the issues of restricting the freedoms of blacks and minorities. So, they are still facing the long-term mind sets and pigeon holes of their ancestors even thought the laws have changed.
kept Freedom By ensuring its citizens that they have to act independently and under no government coercion. That each person not be faced with forced servitude or as a second class of citizen.
kept Freedom People have the right to free speech. People also have the right to practice their own beliefs and assemble freely.
broken Freedom More and more we see restrictions placed on citizens, from social media to jobs to schooling to local government. Things are moving in that direction.
broken independence I think importation and exportation of most of the tech used in the US is a slid lag in the independent nature of the country
broken freedom One way is that there is a mass amount of censorship about what is shown in the media. Some topics are unable to be spoken about without action from the poster. There is also a mass amount of surveillance and data-tracking that restricts freedom of citizens.
kept Money I think every decision is made with a basis of money behind it. I think those with the most economical interest are those who get the most sway.
kept Monetary gain The United States is well known by other countries for its Monetary Gain, many citizens have the chance to get high paying jobs. Going to school or receiving training in a popular trade can often result in high paying careers.
kept Freedom We have the freedom of speech. Anyone can go anywhere and say anything within reason. We can also travel from state to state without restriction.
broken freedom of choice Using a discrimination scenario some people of color are deprived of this right on an occasional basis. They may be driving down a street minding their own business and be pulled over by a police officer for no reason other than their skin color.
broken right to stand up to the govt. we have the ability to vote and question our govt. People can demand to be heard and if done properly, we can overthrow anything.
kept freedom I don’t think the U.S. is currently living up to its promise. I think the divide among people at the moment is too great and there are too many people who are trying to remove the concept of freedom from certain groups, to the point that they do not believe all are created equal.
broken life We are not living up to the promise of life because of the abortion crisis. Mothers are killing babies daily.
broken independence in the era of divided voting, i feel like our independence is going down. women are now having trouble taking care of their bodies.
kept Freedom The US continues to uphold its promise of freedom through its democratic institutions, which provide citizens with the right to vote, express their opinions, and participate in political processes. Additionally, constitutional protections ensure individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, fostering a diverse and dynamic society where people can pursue their own paths and beliefs without fear of persecution.
kept Freedom We come and go as we please. You’re finally able to marry who you want. Government power is restricted to preserve the liberty of people.
broken Greed In a capitalist system, economic power is political power. The American Dream was always a lie. The system actively works to hinder class mobility and the greatest predictor of wealth is if one was born into it.
kept equality Every citizen now has the right to vote and thus has an equal right to influence our elections. We now have laws that make renting or buying a home more fair, so people can’t be denied these things based on their race or their sex. Employers are no longer allowed to discriminate because of things like age, sex, or race.
broken justice for all Justice seems to be biased toward the rich and powerful much more often than for individuals without these traits. Disparities between race and gender also exist which makes it harder for some to find fair evaluation. Finally, our criminal justice system lacks the funds to operate effectively, which allows those that violate the laws of society to run free and unpunished.
kept democracy I think one of the most important things has been the peaceful transition of power. For democracy to work, the losing party has to be willing to concede that they’ve lost and hand over the reins to the winner. More generally, I think our course has been one of expanding rights and extending them to greater and greater numbers of people, in our own imperfect fashion.
kept Freedom The US lets many people across the borders and gives them access to many things. They are not restrictive of how people spend their time if the activity is not illegal, allowing people to pursue things they enjoy.
kept freedom of speech For the most part, it is not…anymore. But, we had the ability to talk about anything freely online and in person without fear of punishment.
broken freedom of choice I think everyone ca do whatever they want as long as they are not hurting anyone and the can talk and choose their lives
broken Freedom It has become less free due to limits on movement in the name of safety. One example would be the TSA.
kept free speech You have the right to remain silent when police arrest you. Also on social media, people are allowed to say whatever they want (for the most part). People are allowed to say racist things sometimes because of free speech.
kept Work Ethic THe US Work Ethic Fuels a strong, innovative Economy. from start-ups to generations-old businesses. American are known for dedication and drive. This translate to high productivity and and a constant push fro advancement.
broken Justice We have a justice system like no other country. Decades of regulations and rights have built it up. Everyone has the right to legal rights and the right to fight.
kept Democracy Americans can vote for the government officials who represent them. We have a constitution that gives us various rights.
kept Personal Liberty Ideally, rights are vested with each individual, not with a group. So every individual has a right to free speech, freedom of association, freedom to assemble, etc.
kept Democracy In the USA, we get to elect our representatives to lead our government. Unlike other countries, our citizens get a say in how our communities are shaped and developed.
broken freedom of speech I think it’s hard to allow freedom of speech when that includes misinformation that is designed to manipulate people. It’s hard to know, for example, what might be prohibiting a political bot from posting on social media (good) vs denying an actual person their right to freedom of speech.
broken democracy Republicans are destroying voters faith in democracy. They didn’t like the presidential election results and chose to undermine the process as a result.
kept Independance First and foremost, Independence is vital to any country. Countries should be able to self-sustain, if needed. A country should be able to exist and thrive with it’s own resources. A country should be able to defend themselves, but no intervene in any other than defense.
kept Democracy It is not living up to that promise of ensuring democracy. It seems that the only people whose rights are respected are those with a large amount of money and property, specifically those who identify as White or Caucasian.
broken Freedom We are forced to oblige by government rule and dedicate ourselves to causes that we do not want to contribute to. For example, we have to pay taxes. Not everyone may believe in the things our taxes go to like police funding, healthcare, etc. We should have freedom to choose to pay taxes and/or where it goes.
kept Individualism America lives up to it’s promise of individualism by allowing the people of this country to be free thinking, self reliant individuals.
broken opportunity All individuals face limitations in achieving success and upward mobility due to systemic barriers like inequality of income, discrimination based on race, and insufficient access to quality education and healthcare.
broken protect aganst terroist Supporting open boarders and not allowing more protection.Texas is trying to protect illegal immigrants but the government was to sue texas.
broken rights Trans rights in the U.S. are under constant attack. Even though they make up a very low percentage of the population, politicians spend so much time spreading negative misinformation about trans people. They seem more motivated to remove trans rights than to actually do their jobs and govern.
broken Freedom The U.S. is not living up to its promise of freedom it is taking that option away from a large portion of its population. With increased laws and regulations on women’s healthcare, immigration, and many other areas, the U.S. population is now more restricted in their right to be free than they have been in decades.
broken Christian values They are taking prayer out of the school. People want to take In God we Trust off of the money that we currently use.
kept Freedom of speech Citizens are able to criticize the government without the fear of imprisonment. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean people can say what they want without consequences, however, we do have the ability to speak freely without the government stepping in because they disagree.
kept freedom The checks and balances in government ensure that no rogue individual can impose their will. I feel this was evident in the aftermath of the 2020 Presidential election. Also, despite ongoing problems with inequality and discrimination, an objective analysis most certainly shows that we are becoming increasingly equal as years progress. As for capitalism, new businesses continue to be formed and new winners emerge as businesses thrive.
broken freedom I think that taking away the right to bear arms infringes on freedom rights, while that has not happened completely it is a possibility
kept democratic the united state has a long tradition of democratic governance, with regular free and fair elections, a system of checks and balance,
kept God America is a very diverse country that does not shy away from our belief in God. Many “patriots” claim God and country first. God is looked at almost as favoring America and all that it stands for. As an American I almost feel as though we are proud of everything we have accomplished as a country, even the bad.
kept economy good thing shere right nwo over there right now over there right now over there right now. good things here right now over there right now over there right now over there right now.
broken freedom of speech The government is trying to limit how voices are being heard. For example, social media is starting to be heavily monitored. Also, the government is trying to get rid of the TikTok app which is a place that many people are able to voice their stances on many subjects.
broken free speech In college campuses, people are being shouted down. On the conservative side they are banning and in some cases burning books.
broken Freedom of speech I don’t feel like we’ve ever had the right to speak freely in this country. They say we have freedom of speech but it’s never been true
kept democracy In the simplest terms, democracy means power of the people. Regardless of the outcomes we see related to anything political, we do have the power to speak our minds, vote, etc. Democracy does not mean that any one person or party gets their way. As long as we can still voice our opinions with the chance of making change, democracy is working.
kept Freedom We have the constitution, which is still upheld to protect our freedoms. We have the freedom of speech, which is protected and it is still something that American people have that many in other countries do not.
broken freedom America doesn’t allow people to travel “freely” (we have to pay for our driver’s licenses, toll roads, insurance, etc.) We also do not have freedom of press because when people try to print certain things they end up being “quieted”. Also, we don’t have the freedom to govern what does and doesn’t go into our own bodies as they have made recreational drugs illegal.
broken independence We are too dependent on foreign oil, and not making our country independent of that usage like we claimed we would be long ago. We have the means to do without but people will not.
kept Freedom of Speech The U.S. is living up to its promise of Freedom of Speech by allowing people to say what they want in the press. People can also openly speak up against the government without fear of being arrested. The U.S. also allows people to openly share views, even negative ones, without facing punishment.
kept Domination We are constantly sending money and troops to other nations in what appears to be an effort to control the other governments of the world through military and economic pressures.
kept The right to bear arms There has been a lot of controversy about the right to bear arms. Some want all guns removed from the country, and others believe it is our constitutional right to own guns.
broken freedom There are restrictions on freedom. Such a case is the abortion ban on women. Woman own their body can and have the power to do anything with their own body.
broken Freedom We are not “free” we work until we are almost dead, we can’t get health care, we hate each other, and we are just here to make others money. American freedom is just palatable slavery
kept freedom of speech Freedom of speech is carried out through means such as social media. Anyone is allowed to post on apps such as X (Twitter) or Facebook. Whether their ideas or comments are correct does not matter as they have the freedom to write anything.
kept Subjugating the poor There is an obvious two-tier system when it comes to laws and those who are punished. Currently, former president Donald Trump is indicted on 91 felony counts and has yet to see any jail time. A poor person would be imprisoned immediately upon even a hint of committing a crime. Currently, homelessness is a huge problem and they are trying really hard to make being homeless a crime.
broken insure liberty Our government is consistently letting down oppressed people. We are not supporting those who need our help, and we are not protecting those who have been a target for hate.
broken Justice The U.S. is not living up to its promise of justice in a number of different ways. First we tend to have a multi tiered justice system where the wealthy can use those avenues on the offensive. We also have a number of ‘white-collar’ crimes being punishable by a hefty monetary fine, which makes it less illegal for those who have more money. We have the highest officials in the land on the Supreme Court, with the ability to accept lavish gifts from wealthy donors and we all have to pretend like they aren’t human so these gifts won’t make them prejudicial in any direction.
kept freedom It provides freedom of speech and a place to feel safe on most occasions that is why i like it. i like it because of that reason
broken Democracy The US does not have mechanisms in place to provide accessibility to voters. It also seems as though decisions are made by those in higher power.
broken Freedom Much of what the average person consumes has been constructed with some sort of hidden agenda, so there is little freedom in getting objective information. Most companies filter what goes out to the public, stifling freedom of speech. Political parties have also gained so much power that there is little freedom in electing government leaders.
kept freedom Everyone has their chance in court and freedom of speech. We also have the right to bear arms and protect ourselves.
broken right to representation I believe that the parties are enacting state laws making it more difficult for third parties to run for elections. I believe the politicians are making it more difficult, financially, for anyone to run for office or be heard when trying to run for office. I believe PACS and Super PACS suffocate the ability to run unless you are a member of the two main parties.
broken Consumerism The US used to value the protection and interest of the consumer. Now, customer service is horrible and so many positions are being outsourced to foreign countries to supposedly make prices lower. Prices may drop slightly, but quality is lower than ever and we no longer get what we pay for.
kept Freedom People in the U.S. are free to worship and practice the religion of their choice. There are laws that the people are governed by, but it isn’t anything like living in a communist nation.
kept Melting Pot Despite the controversy at times, I think the United States is still looked at a place for other nationalities to come and joint together. Communities around the nation offer different ethnic groups a place to be themselves and celebrate their heritage and still be an American. You don’t have to be one or the other.
broken Care for the country We are not doing what is best as a country. We do not care about the future or try to help one another as much as we should
broken Freedom Currently, our right to free speech, specifically on social media, is being infringed upon by the government. Also, the government is targeting citizens rights to bear arms.
kept Justice Grand juries exist to prevent spurious accusations. Juries of one’s peers add to the fairness of convictions. You are considered innocent until proven guilty.
broken Freedom of religion It could get better by providing safer places to practice whatever faith you choose. This country was founded on religious freedom so anyone should be safe without being judged or hurt for what they believe. So places of worship should be better protected by the government so people feel safe.
kept Freedom of religion There is no national religion. Prayer is kept out of public schools. People are all free to practice their own religion and have religious ceremonies and buildings
broken Freedom Day by day the establishment and powers in control will stop at nothing to retain their stranglehold over the people. They try to find ways around the constitution and bill of rights in order to censor their critics and any forms of descent. They are more concerned with protecting those that better secure their power rather than focus on all people with actual fairness.
broken Individuality I think that one way the United States fails to live up to the promise of individuality is from the rise of cancel culture and the decrease in critical thinking of its constituents—people are more willing today to blindly follow trends and less willing to question them. However, this fault seems to be common among modern nations, likely as a result from the rise of social media.
kept Freedom Everyone has a fair shot at life and success, while yes some people have it easier than others, you still have the chance to make it. No one is oppressed and has the freedom to express themselves.
broken freedom of speech One way it is not living up to freedom of speech is by making it legal to censor the language of government employees. Another way is by allowing schools to censor students.
kept Integrity They’ve ensured they carried out all that they promised and that’s a big facts and they ensure they stick to their words and they fulfill it
broken liberty People are increasingly restricted in their liberties in this country. More and more laws are enacted which impinge on people’s right to determine their own actions and freedoms.
broken Democracy Sometimes districts are drawn unfairly to sway elections. It is also very known that big money heavily influences politics. These issues weaken democracy.
broken All are created equal Some people have more advantages than others. Well-off people have more opportunities than lower-income people.
broken FREEDOM Women do not have freedom to make a choice with their bodies. In the past few years freedoms have been taken away.
kept war I believe war is based on who whole the bigger hand meaning who has more control and who hold the higher standards
broken Freedom The U.S. lives up to it’s promise of freedom, therefore I cannot state a way in which it does not. The U.S. allows us to be as free as we want to be.
kept individual freedom There are laws that protect individual rights, punishing someone who violates another’s rights. We have agencies that work to uphold individual rights.
broken innovation As we know, America has become a very car dependent country. America used to be the leading country with passenger rail that has been torn out for road infrastructure. There is a place for roads but there needs to be a focus put onto building more passenger rail and high-speed rail across the country.
kept freedom of speech The United States has in its Constitution that it protects freedom of speech. They also have checks and balances in place to maintain that law for its citizens. That’s why even saying crazy stuff is permitted since doing so would restrict freedom of speech.
broken Freedom In some ways which U.S. is not living up to its promise of freedom is facing discrimination in communities.
broken Freedom I think that the diversity in this country should automatically consider each person to be equal.There are people who think that they should have more than what would be an even share, and they want much more.
broken freedom It still has a broken judical system. It is more about money then helping people. Now if your awful then you should be in prison.
kept religion I don’t think the US is living up to its promise of religion. On paper it sounds great with the whole freedom of religion thing, but in practicality, that only applies to the ‘right’ religion. The US doesn’t embrace people with religions that don’t align with the main Cristian, Catholic and Jewish faiths. It’s hypocrisy at its best.
kept Pay taxes People are trying to avoid paying taxes. The people who make the most are paying the lowest amount of texes
broken Liberty The United States grapples with systemic issues like racism and income inequality, hindering the realization of its promise of liberty. Also, restrictions on civil liberties and disparities in access to essential services like healthcare and education further exacerbate this challenge.
broken freedom Lots of laws and mandates that they say is for the greater good but it makes you wonder. For example, lockdowns.
kept Independence and self-sufficiency Our country is fulfilling its independence through all its people, with an economically stable country and a country in which its development is one of the greatest in recent times. Its independence and its development has been key at this very moment.
kept Independence from tyranny The US became independent from British rule. The US has a constitution that is supposed to prevent tyranny.
kept Confident The US always excel in many aspect of life and are always sure of decisions they make because it is mostly right
kept Freedom The U.S. allows freedom of speech as well as religion. We are also free to elect the President of the United States. We are able to live where we want and how we want. The government has checks and balances to ensure our freedom.
kept The rights of every citizen in the U.S The U.S. is living up to its promise by letting everyone know their rights. The people have the right to eat where they want, discuss where they want, work where they want and to live where they can afford.
kept freedom Americans enjoy broad protections for freedom of speech allowing individuals to express their opinions, beliefs, and dissenting views without dissenting views without the fear of the government reprisal.
broken Democracy While in the U.S. has a democratic framework, challenges persist in ensuring equal representation and participation. Issues such as voter suppression, gerrymandering, and unequal access to resources and opportunities can hinder the full realization of democracy in American society. These challenges must be addressed to uphold the democratic values the nation strives for.
kept freedom For the most part each American citizen has their freedom to do what they want with their life. To pick what they want to do be it a career or where they live. They can determine their outcome to what they want out of life having a family and picking their friends. You can start a business and be successful, you have many choices in the united states.
broken Helping one another The US is not doing enough to ensure that everyone is being taken care of. We do not provide enough support or resources
broken Equality Despite the fight against racism, there I still racial inequality in the country where people are judge and discriminated based on their race, color ir identity also gender inequality, the woman still face a limited wages gap and salary and in ability to have a woman figure as a leader as been challenging in the country
broken equality When the US was founded the said everyone was created equally but did not believe or act that way. After many years there are still systematic issues that oppress certain people in society.
broken pride I think the country fails to do so when giving more importance to international events than to their population’s issues and sorrows. It is a false sense of pride that clouds over the pride out nation should feel because of their habitants
broken Science and technology Youths and students of the United States of America are now becoming lazy to read and explore the science and technology side of the United States of America but focusing more on the entertainment and business aspects of the country which is therefore posing a very big risk on our technology and making us not to progress as expected in technology. Also the government aren’t really focusing on technology as they should they focus more on balancing the economy of the country. They believe this will help them to have a successful run in office .
broken Freedom People are not allowed to say what they think because those thoughts are being held against them. In addition, people are being forced to behave the way minorities want. For example, the new they/them terms for nonbinary people are beliefs the majority of the people do not agree and they are being forced to use thm.
broken Freedom They have restricted women from getting things like abortion. They are not allowing people to live the american dream by creating an economy that doesn’t allow people to move up and grow in society.
kept Freedom Freedom is upheld through various avenues such as freedom of speech, expression and assembly, allowing individuals to voice their opinions, engage in peaceful protests, and participate in public discourse without fear of repression. Additionally, freedoms related to religion and belief empower individuals to practice their faiths or choose not to adhere to any religion, ensuring religious pluralism and tolerance. Constitutional protections safeguard individual liberties against unwarranted government intrusion.
kept Democratic mode of government Democratic mode of government is observed and practiced in the American society today as we can observe this system of government in the apportionment of government officials through right to vote and be voted for, the power of the society belongs to the people
broken You can protest your rights against tyranny The U.S. always taxing citizens especially the poor to fund wars across the globes, we can fight against this peacefully and we have the power to remove anyone from political office that stands against its own people.
broken Time America is not living up to its promise on time. As a country evolves, it must stay true to its promise and strive to deliver on it time and time again. That consistency is what inspires belief in the country, creating loyalists , people who help to uphold its ideals. Most black people remained slaves from America’s founding. Women are still not recognized as equal under the law, nor are they guaranteed the same rights and protections as men and it has taken more time than necessary to fix this.
broken Justice for all The penalty for committing crimes lately has been a slap on the wrist. The crime statistics are increasing because people are not being held accountable for committing crimes, even violent crimes.
kept Freedom In the American society today, the freedom of Americans is shown through various means especially in the constitution with freedom of speech, freedom of religion and also freedom of assembly. Also the freedom of every Individual American is protected by the law which allows every American to sue anyone or any organization they feel has infringe on their freedom.
broken freedom People are arrested daily for crimes they didn’t commit. They’re arrested for smoking a plant because they’re black. People are in the streets with hatred and protests.
broken Religious Freedom Many Christians are trying to take over the government, example being pushing Pro-Life onto the country using the bible as a basis
broken all men are created equal I think people who are rich get better treatment, particularly in the current legal system. It’s much easier for wealthy people to commit crimes and get away with it.
kept Democracy Democracy is still alive but the political system looks more and more like an oligarchy where money rules. Politicians look more like puppets in the pocket of billionaires, corporations, and other moneyed vested interests. Greed is good is the mantra that is preached even by those who claim to worship Jesus who was poor and homeless and preached against the worship of Mammon.
kept Freedom Allowing citizens to have autonomy with their thoughts and actions allows them to leas truer, happier lives
broken Freedom from tyranny There are tyrannical laws that attempt to force people to violate their conscience. For example, prohibiting teachers from saying personal prayers in school, forcing business owners and other people to say or do things that violate their morals, or mandating that people or organizations allow men into women’s sports and facilities if they identify as trans. These are forms of extreme, flawed, and often irrational ideology being inflicted onto people against their will sometimes at the threat of job loss or government punishment such as lawsuits, exclusion, or legal punishment.
kept Democracy The US upholds the promise of democracy through regular elections, a system that allows checks and balances, the protection of liberty and allowing citizen freedom through active participation.
kept Democracy Citizens have the right to voice their opinions, participate in political processes, and participate their faith without fear of persecution
kept Freedom in the united states, freedom is evident in various aspects of society, including freedom of speech, expression, and religion.
kept free education the only free education is the primary education k12, if you want higher education it will cost tens of thousands of dollars
broken Capitalistic It is. Were a capalistic country, The pull yourself up by your bootstraps nature of our society is having an adverse effect on its citizens
kept inclusive I think Americans should read and reflect what is calved on the Statue of Liberty. That this land is welcoming all people, whether poor or rich, to construct a new and happy land.
kept Life The United States lives up to its promise of Life by allowing its citizens to carry out their lives how they wish. Each citizen is free to choose their own path. Whether that be through work, education, or religion.
broken Capatilism They’re living up to it, but only a few actually are benefitting from capatilism. They’re willing to let their people suffer for a small group to win.
kept democracy The U.S. is collectively working to assist in individuals attaining the human rights that the country strives to maintain in all citizens. The U.S. also continues to maintain the rule of American citizens voting to elect the politicians that reflect their personal values, and the politicians carry out the tasks they promised to do.
kept Freedom Every person has the right to bare arms and also the right to religion. These rights are a couple freedoms we have at the moment
broken Individual freedom We have individual freedom on a normal basis, but it was challenged for the Covid lockdown. The restrictions were severe and damaging to the economy.
kept Prosperity The activity on Wall Street is a way in which the US is living up to its promise of prosperity. People and institutions making money by saving and investing is central to the country’s ability to be financially gainful.

Anti-Establishment

  1. The US’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful
  2. Traditional politicians and parties don’t care about people like me
  3. Experts in this country don’t understand the lives of people like me
  4. Most of the time we can trust people in the government to do what is right [R]
    alpha = 0.76
means <- df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(cond) %>% 
  summarise(score = mean(antiest,na.rm = T)) %>% 
  ungroup()

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = antiest)) +
  geom_density(fill = "lightblue",
                 color = "black") +
  scale_x_continuous(breaks = seq(1,7,1),
                     limits = c(1,7)) +
  ylab("density") +
  geom_vline(data = means,mapping = aes(xintercept = score),
             color = "black",
             linetype = "dashed",
             size = 1.1) +
  theme(panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
        panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
        panel.background = element_blank(),
        axis.ticks = element_blank(),
        axis.line = element_line(color = "grey66"),
        axis.text.y = element_text(color = "black"),
        axis.text.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold"),
        axis.title.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold")) + 
  facet_wrap(~cond,
             nrow = 2)

Trust in institutions

Please indicate how much you trust or distrust the following institutions (1 = Strongly Distrust to 7 = Strongly Trust)

1. The US Congress / Legislative Branch
2. The US Government / Executive Branch
3. The US Courts / Judicial Branch

alpha = 0.9

means <- df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(cond) %>% 
  summarise(score = mean(trust_deminst,na.rm = T)) %>% 
  ungroup()

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = trust_deminst)) +
  geom_density(fill = "lightblue",
                 color = "black") +
  scale_x_continuous(breaks = seq(1,7,1),
                     limits = c(1,7)) +
  ylab("density") +
  geom_vline(data = means,mapping = aes(xintercept = score),
             color = "black",
             linetype = "dashed",
             size = 1.1) +
  theme(panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
        panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
        panel.background = element_blank(),
        axis.ticks = element_blank(),
        axis.line = element_line(color = "grey66"),
        axis.text.y = element_text(color = "black"),
        axis.text.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold"),
        axis.title.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold")) + 
  facet_wrap(~cond,
             nrow = 2)

Support for change

To what extent do you agree with the following statement?

The way this country works needs to be radically changed

means <- df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(cond) %>% 
  summarise(score = mean(change,na.rm = T)) %>% 
  ungroup()

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = change)) +
  geom_density(fill = "lightblue",
                 color = "black") +
  scale_x_continuous(breaks = seq(1,7,1),
                     limits = c(1,7)) +
  ylab("density") +
  geom_vline(data = means,mapping = aes(xintercept = score),
             color = "black",
             linetype = "dashed",
             size = 1.1) +
  theme(panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
        panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
        panel.background = element_blank(),
        axis.ticks = element_blank(),
        axis.line = element_line(color = "grey66"),
        axis.text.y = element_text(color = "black"),
        axis.text.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold"),
        axis.title.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold")) + 
  facet_wrap(~cond,
             nrow = 2)

Voting intentions

What is the likelihood that you will vote in the 2024 Presidential Elections?

means <- df_bsc_elg %>% 
  group_by(cond) %>% 
  summarise(score = mean(vote_likely,na.rm = T)) %>% 
  ungroup()

df_bsc_elg %>% 
  ggplot(aes(x = vote_likely)) +
  geom_density(fill = "lightblue",
                 color = "black") +
  scale_x_continuous(breaks = seq(1,5,1),
                     limits = c(1,5)) +
  ylab("density") +
  geom_vline(data = means,mapping = aes(xintercept = score),
             color = "black",
             linetype = "dashed",
             size = 1.1) +
  theme(panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
        panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
        panel.background = element_blank(),
        axis.ticks = element_blank(),
        axis.line = element_line(color = "grey66"),
        axis.text.y = element_text(color = "black"),
        axis.text.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold"),
        axis.title.x = element_text(color = "black",
                                   face = "bold")) + 
  facet_wrap(~cond,
             nrow = 2)

Analysis

Condition -> Anti-Establishment

Descriptives

cond Mean SD
broken 5.27 1.15
kept 4.94 1.20

t-test

t(201.63) = 1.99, p = .048, d = 0.28

Plot

Condition -> Trust in Institutions

Descriptives

cond Mean SD
broken 3.14 1.64
kept 3.58 1.66

t-test

t(201.96) = -1.94, p = .054, d = -0.27

Plot

Condition -> Support for change

Descriptives

cond Mean SD
broken 5.05 1.59
kept 4.72 1.60

t-test

t(202.00) = 1.49, p = .138, d = 0.21

Plot

Condition -> Voting intentions

Descriptives

cond Mean SD
broken 4.12 1.38
kept 3.96 1.38

t-test

t(202.00) = 0.81, p = .418, d = 0.11

Plot

Condition -> Voting: 2024

Descriptives

vote_2024 broken kept
Cornel West 1 2
Donald Trump 27 36
Jill Stein 3 3
Joe Biden 47 39
Other 13 10
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  11 12