Natalie Gonnella
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Although Americans remain generally discouraged by the state of moral values within the United States, the latest survey in Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs poll reveals that fewer rate the nation's morals as "highly negatively" in 2011 than those who did so a year ago.
According to Gallup:
The percentage calling the state of moral values "poor" has fallen to 38% -- the lowest since 2003 -- after registering 45% in May 2010...Americans are also slightly more optimistic than they were a year ago about the direction in which the nation's morals are headed, according to this year's Gallup Values and Beliefs survey, conducted May 5-8. About 7 in 10 Americans (69%) now say moral values in the country as a whole are getting worse, down from 76% last year.
While these figures were taking prior to the latest news revelations regarding Arnold Schwarzenegger's past infidelity, and possible criminal charges for John Edwards relating to an alleged scandal cover up, Gallup also notes that:
Given the trends by party ID in Americans' ratings of moral values, it appears that Americans' reactions to the moral leadership of the president, or perhaps to the moral implications of government policies, may play a bigger role in the formation of these views than news about the behavior of specific individuals.
The full analysis from Gallup's recent poll is available to view here.
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