Three-quarters of Americans believe morals have weakened

Three-quarters of Americans believe morals have weakened

Three-quarters of Americans believe moral values in America have weakened in the last 20 years and almost half think they have significantly weakened, according to a survey released March 7 by the Media Research Center.

“Today Americans in general continue to believe in classic virtues like thrift, charity and honesty, but in their personal lives don’t necessarily practice those virtues,” said L. Brent Bozell III, president of the Alexandria, Va.-based center.

“America is becoming increasingly situational in its ethics and in its morals.”

The survey found that 74 percent of American adults said they believe moral values in the United States are weaker than they were two decades ago, while 48 percent of adults said moral values are “much weaker.”

The study was conducted by the Alexandria-based polling firm Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates and the center’s Culture and Media Institute.

Sixty-eight percent of Americans surveyed said the media — both entertainment and news — have a detrimental effect on moral values.

More specifically, 73 percent said entertainment media have a negative influence on moral values, while 54 percent said the news media do.

Eighty-seven percent of Americans said they believe in God, while 36 percent agreed that people should always live by God’s principles and teachings.

Seeking a specific example of American ethics, researchers asked respondents what they would do if a restaurant check arrived at their table with items missing from the bill; 70 percent said they would inform the waiter and pay the correct amount, while 25 percent said they would pay the smaller tab. (RNS)