Americans' Views on Political Violence and Civility: CBS News Poll

Public Opinion on Political Violence

• 86% of Americans overwhelmingly state that political violence is unacceptable.
• 📊 Despite this, a significant majority expect political violence to increase over the coming years.
• 📈 This concern about increasing political violence has been on the rise in previous polls.

Declining Civility in Politics

• 📉 A majority of Americans feel that civility in politics has worsened.
• 👵 Older Americans are particularly likely to agree that civility has declined, possibly due to having witnessed more over their lifetimes.
• 🗣️ This pessimism about civility cuts across various demographics.

Political Silos and Communication

• 🧩 Americans believe that people could get along, but politics drives them apart.
• 💬 A very small percentage of people report having frequent conversations with individuals holding different political views, either online or in person.
• 🤝 Many individuals find it easier to connect with those who already agree with them, contributing to the decline in cross-political dialogue.

Demographic Differences in Views

• 🌍 While all age groups find political violence unacceptable, this sentiment is particularly strong among older Americans.
• 📊 Age breaks are significant in understanding differing perspectives on civility and the acceptability of political violence.