CNN Poll: Most Americans think election results could lead to political violence in the coming years

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN


By Jennifer Agiesta, CNN Polling Director

Updated 12:00 PM ET, Fri March 12, 2021

(CNN) - A broad majority of Americans say that political violence in response to election results is likely in the United States in the next few years, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS.

Overall, 71% say political violence in response to election results is at least somewhat likely, including 34% who believe it is very likely. The expectation that elections will lead to violence also cuts across party lines (78% of Democrats, 70% of independents and 65% of Republicans describe it as likely).

There is far less partisan agreement over whether American democracy took a blow due to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Overall, 62% are concerned that the attack weakened American democracy. But a political divide was evident: Among Democrats (79%) and independents (64%), most say they are concerned that it weakened democracy, but just 36% of Republicans feel the same.

Republican leaders, including Republicans in Congress and former President Donald Trump, receive sharply negative ratings for their handling of the response to the January 6 attack. Overall, 70% disapprove of congressional Republicans' handling of the response, and 67% disapprove of the way Trump handled it. Democrats, including President Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, fare a bit better, with 52% approving and 40% disapproving of Biden's handling of the aftermath of the attack, while 45% approve and 49% disapprove of the way Democrats in Congress responded.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/12/politics/cnn-poll-political-divisions/index.html

[Warpy]

1. Elections are tense times in other countries. We've just been lucky here

because until now, resources were distributed enough to give ordinary people some hope that life was going to get better, if not for them, then for their children. We've been on a downward slide since the 70s and free floating anger has taken the place of hope.

If we can't get a sane government, and it looks like we can't, we need a crash to wipe out the billionaire class.

[BootinUp]

2. Need a crash? Edit

That’s not too far removed from crazy talk from the right. What we need is less crazy. As for economic policies I’m in favor of common sense progress that benefits everyone in general. Obviously the billionaires can take care of themselves.

Stability that’s what we need. Less leveraged buyout bullshit.

[Warpy]

6. I don't want a crash, no sane person would., You're confusing "want" and "need.,"

Historically in the US, crashes are what enabled much needed major reform in the financial sector. For example, four "panics" in 16 years allowed Teddy Roosevelt to push through antitrust laws.

Want one or not, one is coming, the present system is simply unsustainable unless we want to convert to a feudal system, and even minor tweaks are going to be stonewalled by conservatives who don't want changes, even necessary ones, because "stability."

If you want to stop leveraged buyouts, naked short selling, corporations taking on crippling debt in order to buy their own stocks to fatten their top executives, paying taxes in any country but their own, and other games people with too much money and too little useful work to do play, you're not going to get any of it while they're still in the catbird seat, and that's a fact.

[BootinUp]

7. Figure out another way. nt

[Warpy]

12. Good luck with that

[dlk]

3. If we don't get a handle on social media, I'm afraid there will be much more violence in our future

The toxic effects of unregulated social media cannot be overstated. It is literally killing us.

[Roc2020]

4. It's almost inevitable

given this pass election. Only question is how bad will the violence be.

[Blasphemer]

5. I am prepared for a very intense decade...

Election-related violence, uprisings based on continued racial violence, mass protests if/when Roe v. Wade is overturned... My only solace is that I do not believe Joe Biden will take us into a war.

[jmbar2]

8. Do polls like this help plant the seeds of disaster?

It seems like it's too easy for media today to plant the seeds of BS with polls like this.

This technique is not too different from Russian disinformation.
- Poll a BS question to low information folks - "Is XXX really behind Biden's decision to YYY?"
- Report and discuss it adnauseum until
- people start to believe something totally made up


CNN seems to be wanting to create news, rather than report it.

And that's a damned shame.

[Firestorm49]

9. I would say it all depends on what the DOJ, FBI, NSI, and all the other three initial

intel ops do to infiltrate and diffuse a situation before it becomes a “movement.” Could happen, but also might not.

[erronis]

10. Typical emphasizing of the extremes. 34% believe it is very likely. Not "Most Americans"

And this is over a fairly long time period - next few years.

71% say is at least somewhat likely.

Sure. Most Americans would give the chances of being killed by something in the next 10 years a pretty high chance.

We tend to not be good consumers of statistics or history. Most people will live mundane lives and die because of genetics or lifestyle.

Not casting aspersions on your post, Don; just the CNN headline grabbing stuff.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. I think the hard core will be fragmented by insurrection prosecutions

and fearful of the penalties involved. There will be a few incidents in different areas, but I think the recovering economy and healing rhetoric will put the genie back in the bottle for the most part.

[Evolve Dammit]

13. Drumpf set the table for this and Jr. seems to understand it Vewy, Vewy Well. Normalize violence.

[raccoon]

14. Yep. Thanks Republicans. Nt