American pride is strong, the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found – but nearly one third of Americans say they are worried about the direction the U.S.is headed in and almost half of Americans think the country has moved far away from the nation's founding principles.The way Americans are feeling about the country today is largely split along partisan, gender and generational lines.The survey of 1,340 respondents was conducted June 8-11 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points, meaning results could be about 3 points higher or lower.
Respondents were surveyed online and by phone and text.NPR followed up with several poll participants about their thoughts about America ahead of the 250th anniversary.Even though some Americans believe the nation is on the wrong track, the majority say they're "proud" or "very proud" to be an American.Loading...David Walsh, 62, a retired teacher from New Jersey who identified as a Republican, said he feels very proud.
Some of the liberties he appreciates are, "The ability to think how I want, to help out who I want and to try to do things that are good for me and others," he said.For Walsh, watching global fans visiting the U.S.for the FIFA World Cup and enjoying things that Americans often take for granted, such as department stores, air conditioning, the variety and abundance of food, has been a reminder to him about how much the country has to offer."We have a lot of great things here.
That's why people want to come here," he said."Go live in that other country you think is better, and they'll be coming back here in a year."Meanwhile, 35% of respondents overall said they aren't proud to be American.Christopher James, 59, a federal employee based in Maryland who identified as Democrat, said his feelings about his country are mixed."I'm proud of some of the achievements that we've made in a variety of ways in the world," James said.
"But it's hard to feel absolute pride considering the conflicts that are going on...