Gallup’s Values and Beliefs Survey
Dr J’s interview on Issues, Etc. this week deals with Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey. According to their findings, Americans are most likely to disagree over four issues: physician-assisted suicide, gay/lesbian relations, abortion, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. (The others on the list we’re more and more likely to agree on, culminating in condemnation of adultery.)
All of the findings are interesting, and some are surprising. For example–many of us apparently think physician-assisted suicide is okay but suicide (without a physician) isn’t. If I’m interpreting this correctly, that means that there’s a section of the populace who wouldn’t condone self-suicide but would be fine with a physician ending lives. Did they assume the question included them, or were they applying it only to others? Is this some sort of attempt at checks and balances? It comes across as muddled thinking.
Also, when the respondents were grouped by gender, men tended to be more accepting [of these hot-button issues] than women. However, there was one category where men were less accepting than women: out-of-wedlock childbearing. More women viewed this as “morally acceptable” (55%) than did men (52%).
The interview is now up on our podcast page (and iTunes) for your listening pleasure.
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