Values Seen as Important to Americans Are Changing

The values Americans consider "very important" are undergoing fundamental shifts, according to a new poll by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. However, one thing hasn't changed from a similar survey 21 years ago: "Hard work" was at the top then (83%), and it remains at the top now (89%), per Axios. But beyond that, attitudes are shifting:

• Patriotism: The percentage who consider it very important dropped from 70% in 1998 to 61%.
• Religion: This dropped from 62% to 48%.
• Having kids: Down from 59% to 43%.
• Money: Up from 31% to 41%.
• Community involvement: Up from 47% to 62%.
• Age divide: Age of respondents is a big factor. For example, 79% of those older than 55 say patriotism is very important. For those 18 to 38, the figure drops to 42%, per the Hill. A similar age divide occurred in the ranking of the importance of religion.
• A takeaway: “There’s an emerging America where issues like children, religion and patriotism are far less important," Republican pollster Bill McInturff tells the Journal. "And in America, it’s the emerging generation that calls the shots about where the country is headed."

(More values stories.)