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A new Gallup/With Honor poll released this month shines a bright spotlight on something many of us already suspected: Americans agree on a few basic things, but the two parties see the country’s needs very differently. The survey shows shared values like freedom and service still matter to most people, but when asked what the nation needs most, Democrats and Republicans answered like they were reading from different playbooks.
What the Gallup/With Honor poll found
The survey asked more than 3,000 adults about 12 values and whether those values are shared or needed. About 76% named at least one value they believe most Americans share. The top shared values were freedom (about 38%), patriotism (around 32%), and service (about 30%). But character traits like honesty, integrity, courage and humility scored very low as “shared” — honesty and integrity were picked by only about 13% each, and humility by 10%.
The headline: a sharp partisan divide
Here’s the news editors can’t stop quoting: when asked which values the country most needs, Republicans put patriotism at the top (nearly half listed it), while Democrats put equality at the top (about 44%). By contrast, only about 6% of Democrats picked patriotism as a top need, while only about 10% of Republicans picked equality. And yet a strong majority — roughly 79% — still says it’s more important to respect different values than for everyone to share the same ones. Translation: people want tolerance, but the parties want different goals.
Why this matters — and why conservatives should care
This split isn’t just polling fodder. It explains the messages we see from political campaigns, the culture wars, and even what gets taught in schools. Conservatives are right to worry that when one side treats patriotism as optional, the civic glue frays. Democrats treating equality as the top need speaks to their focus on policy outcomes; Republicans prioritizing patriotism speaks to shared identity and national survival. Both sides can lecture about “respect,” but the disagreements over what binds Americans will shape elections and the future of civic life.
Caveats, context, and a short call to action
The poll used Gallup’s probability-based panel and was fielded earlier in the year, so public opinion can shift. With Honor co-sponsored the research, which is worth noting when reading the headlines. Still, this result lines up with broader studies showing partisan sorting on values and priorities. For conservatives, the takeaway is simple: double down on patriotism, honesty, and civic character — and make the case that those things actually deliver the kind of freedom and opportunity people say they want. If Democrats want equality above all, voters should decide whether that goal comes at the cost of the ties that hold a nation together.
