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The McCourtney Institute for Democracy

The McCourtney Institutefor Democracy

Americans see freedom and liberty diminishing

Americans see freedom and liberty diminishing

The McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State’s most recent Mood of the Nation Poll, conducted May 11-19, 2022, finds that a majority of Americans believes they have lost more personal freedoms in the past 10 years than the they have gained, and will continue to lose more than gain in the next decade.

Two-thirds of Americans believe they will lose more than they have right now over the next 10 years. This is true regardless of whether that personal sovereignty is framed as “liberties,” “freedom” or “rights.”

About 1 in 10 people said they will gain more liberties, freedom or rights than lose over the next 10 years, while 1 in 5 said there will be no change.

Read the Report from APM Research Lab