What Americans Want and Republicans fight against:
A majority of Americans agree on the issues (below) while GOP Legislators ignore or vote against them. Democrats support health, living wage, housing, your rights, justice and more. This compilation of information could benefit voters, candidates, legislators, activists, LTE writers and more - to show that the American voters share our Democratic party values. If you don’t find a statistic to assist in your cause or position – you may find it – do a search! Don’t give up. Please share this info. Thank you, Watauga County Democrats!
Vote in your best interest – VOTE for Democrats. ONLY.
Health Care, Mental Health, Women’s Choice, Social Security and Gun Safety
57% Of Americans believe government should ensure health coverage for all. https://news.gallup.com/poll/468401/majority-say-gov-ensure-healthcare.aspx
79% Of Americans Believe Mental Health Is a Public Health Emergency That Needs More Attention from Lawmakers https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/midterms-poll-mental-health-priority
51-73% Abortion should be legal (lower at 15 wks/higher at 6 wks). https://www.axios.com/2023/07/12/most-americans-support-abortion-poll
72% Oppose the creation of a commission to cut Social Security and Medicare. https://socialsecurityworks.org/2022/08/03/social-security-polling/
56% Want stricter gun laws. https://news.gallup.com/poll/513623/majority-continues-favor-stricter-gun-laws.aspx
69% U.S. adults prioritize developing alternative energy sources. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/americans-largely-favor-u-s-taking-steps-to-become-carbon-neutral-by-2050/
Housing for Workforce, Fair Wages and Equality
81% Of Americans want more done about affordable housing; while issues on ‘where’ exist. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2023/11/30/survey-finds-large-majorities-favor-policies-to-enable-more-housing Note: Workforce Housing program, created by NC General Assembly: https://www.nchfa.com/rental-housing-partners/rental-developers/rental-development-financing-options/workforce-housing-loan-program
78+% Want all to have equal opportunity to succeed. https://spn.org/articles/american-voters-views-on-equality-of-opportunity/
65% Of Americans want the minimum wage raised. https://www.graydc.com/2023/04/21/study-finds-that-23-americans-support-raising-federal-minimum-wage/
56% Want racial equality at work https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/05/17/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-workplace/
Voting rights, Justice and … Books!
78% Want to make voting easier. https://truthout.org/articles/most-americans-back-reforms-to-make-voting-easier-poll-shows/
65% Want to end the Electoral College. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/25/majority-of-americans-continue-to-favor-moving-away-from-electoral-college/
75% Want justice reform. https://www.vera.org/news/overwhelming-majority-of-americans-support-criminal-justice-reform-new-poll-finds
88% Agree that Donald Trump is not above the law. https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/reutersipsos-survey-most-say-trump-not-above-law
75% Or 3 out of 4 Americans want immigration reform. https://navigatorresearch.org/a-majority-of-americans-want-immigration-reform-that-balances-security-and-pathway-for-citizenship/
71% Support same-sex marriage. https://news.gallup.com/poll/506636/sex-marriage-support-holds-high.aspx
71% Of voters oppose book bans in libraries. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/voters-oppose-book-bans-libraries
Fairness for Working and Middle Class, and Good (local) Government:
88% Want to reduce the influence of large campaign donors – Citizens United ruling. https://publicintegrity.org/politics/study-most-americans-want-to-kill-citizens-united-with-constitutional-amendment/
82% Of voters support raising taxes on the rich and big corporations. https://socialsecurityworks.org/2022/08/03/social-security-polling/
71% Of respondents say large corporations have a negative effect on the country. Oversight needed. Survey Highlights Backlash to Increasingly Political Corporate America - ProMarket.
63-85% Support the idea of tuition-free college https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/08/11/democrats-overwhelmingly-favor-free-college-tuition-while-republicans-are-divided-by-age-education/
77% Support checks-and-balances in government. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2017/03/02/large-majorities-see-checks-and-balances-right-to-protest-as-essential-for-democracy/
75% Of us wanted the Infrastructure bill that GOP voted against (and now takes credit.) https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-republicans-tout-infrastructure-funding-voted/story?id=82429064
… and
While the GOP voted against infrastructure, here is how the ARP Act funding was used in Watauga County:
WATAUGA ARPA funding (from County Budget Records):
January 19, 2022 – Total Awarded: $10,911,724
Detention Facility Unbudgeted: $270,000
Broadband Initiative: $7,750,000
Kill/Chill Facility: $500,000
Valle Crucis El. School: $2,145,000
Drug regulations
65% Want to end the war on drugs. https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/50th-anniversary-war-drugs-poll-shows-majority-voters-support-ending-criminal
68% Support legalizing marijuana in small amounts for personal use. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/24/marijuana-same-sex-marriage-legalization/ + https://news.gallup.com/poll/356939/support-legal-marijuana-holds-record-high.aspx
79% Americans Support Government Action to Curb Prescription Drug Prices. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/01/699086303/poll-americans-support-government-action-to-curb-prescription-drug-prices
In Summary… “Americans still agree on most core American values”
rev. 5/10/24 - Compiled by: Peri David