A new national survey from the Pew Research Center captures Americans’ views of institutions.
Most Americans agree that small businesses have a positive effect on the country (86%). This is also the case for the U.S. military, with over half of Americans (60%) sharing a favorable opinion. On the other hand, large corporations (68%), banks and other financial institutions (60%) are largely viewed negatively.
Along party lines, Democrats and Republicans share the same attitude towards banks, with 38% viewing them positively. They also share “similarly negative opinions of large corporations,” with only 26% of Democrats and 32% of Republicans seeing a positive impact on the country.
U.S. adults are divided (53%, positive; 45%, negative) on the impact of colleges and universities and K-12 public schools (53%, positive; 45%, negative). The survey also found this to be the case along party lines for these educational institutions.
The partisan divide among Americans is also true for labor unions (55%, positive; 41%, negative) and technology companies (53%, positive; 44%, negative). Thirty-five percent of Republican/Republican-leaning respondents have a favorable view of labor unions compared to 75% of Democrat/Democrat-leaning respondents.
Churches and religious organizations are viewed more positively (59%) when compared to a 2022 survey (53%). Most Protestants (73%) and Catholics (67%) view the church positively. The religiously affiliated, who identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” are far less likely to see it the same way (33%, positive; 64%, negative).
“A majority of conservative and moderate Democrats (58%) have a positive impression of the impact of churches, compared with just 31% of liberal Democrats,” the survey found. “Differences are more modest among Republicans: 78% of conservative Republicans say churches and religious organizations have a positive impact, as do 63% of moderate and liberal Republicans.”
For the survey’s methodology and the complete report, click here.
Director of The Raceless Gospel Initiative, an associate editor, host of the Good Faith Media podcast, “The Raceless Gospel” and author of Take Me to the Water: The Raceless Gospel as Baptismal Pedagogy for a Desegregated Church.
