COMPETING VISIONS OF AMERICA: - AN EVOLVING IDENTITY OR A CULTURE UNDER ATTACK?

Only 29% of Republicans today say that American culture and way of life have changed for the better since the 1950s, a substantial decrease from 46% in 2020 and a return to their opinion in 2016 (31%), prior to the election of former President Trump. [...] White evangelical Protestants (78%) are the most likely to agree with the idea that America is in danger of losing its culture and identity, followed by 64% of white Catholics, 59% of white main- line (non-evangelical) Protestants, 58% of other Christians, and 52% of Black Protestants. [...] FINDINGS FROM THE 2021 AMERICAN VALUES SURVEY 25 Economic Changes and Anxiety in America Sources of and Solutions to Economic Problems Americans are twice as likely to believe that “The economic issues facing the country are primarily a result of long-term problems” (65%) than to believe that “The economic issues facing the coun- try are primarily a result of the hardships caused by the coronaviru. [...] Black Americans (61%) and Hispanic Americans (56%) are more likely than white Americans (51%) to believe that their generation is better off than that of their parents, while Americans of other races (52%) are about as likely as Americans overall to say the same. [...] White evangelical Protestants (26%) are the religious group most likely to agree that true Amer- ican patriots might have to resort to violence in order to save our country, while 23% of those who follow non-Christian religions, 22% of Hispanic Catholics, 19% of white Catholics, 19% of other Christians, 17% of white mainline (non-evangelical) Protestants, 16% of Black Protestants, and 13% of relig.