As we approach our nation’s 250th anniversary, it is instructive to learn who are the most patriotic Americans and who are the least patriotic. The survey data are quite revealing.
In terms of political affiliation, the most patriotic are Republicans. In terms of economic class, the poor come out on top. The least patriotic are Democrats and young people.
Every survey finds that Republicans are much more religious than Democrats, and surveys also reveal that the more religious a person is, the more likely he is to be patriotic. Moreover, a recent survey found that the religiously unaffiliated were the least proud to be American.
There are other reasons as well that explain the political gap, education being the most prominent. Those with college degrees—especially those with post-graduate degrees—are much more likely to be critical of America.
It is not hard to figure out why young people, and those with the highest degrees, are less likely to be patriotic.
Two distinguished researchers, Richard D. Kahlenberg and Lief Lin, released their findings early this year of a major study of almost 100 articles published over a three-year-period in American Quarterly, the flagship journal of the American Studies Association; the publication is widely considered the most premier journal of American studies in the nation.
They found that 80 percent of the articles published between 2022 and 2024 were critical of America, 20 percent were neutral, and none were positive. “It’s astonishing that we couldn’t find a single positive article over a three-year period.” Is it any wonder that young college students come away with a hyper-critical view of their country, and that many indeed hate it?
The authors are correct to note “the complete lack of gratitude on the part of [these] scholars,” even though they “benefit every day from the country’s commitment to liberty.” Regrettably, too many of them are spoiled brats who have never served a day in the armed forces.
By contrast, the poor, who have shared the least in America’s bounty, are the most patriotic. In a General Social Survey, it was found that more than 90 percent of the poorest Americans said they would rather be citizens of the United States than of any other nation.
The working class also scores high on patriotism scales. This makes sense given that the police, firefighters and construction workers are more likely to be veterans than those with college and post-graduate degrees, and most veterans love America.
Nurturing a healthy dose of patriotism is important to the defense of the country. If young people are constantly treated in school to highly negative assessments of America, past and present, they are not likely to want to serve in the armed forces, even when their nation calls them to do so.
Let’s not mince words. A free society that turns its young against its nation’s heritage is engaged in sabotage. Indeed, it is suicidal.
Yes, there are super-patriotic zealots who refuse to acknowledge any of our nation’s faults. But they are not representative of most Americans who love our country. They can be annoying but they are not a threat.
On the other hand, those who are obsessed with our nation’s shortcomings—real and contrived—pose an existential threat, and that is doubly true of those who work in higher education. No one is asking for a loyalty test in education, but when it is impossible to find one journal article in American studies that conveys a positive image of America, this presents a problem that cries out for a solution.
To put it differently, if someone is suffering from self-hatred, it is rightly seen as pathological and in need of a remedy. Why is it not pathological, and in need of a remedy, when legions of young people are taught to hate their country?
