Americans want politics to be civil.

• Position: Political survey - YOUR LIFE - Survey

Although an overwhelming number of Americans say they believe civility and compromise are essential characteristics of a democracy, they also indicate that they do not see these values reflected in today's political environment. Instead, citizens say they witness rancor, anger, and hostility, according to a study developed and commissioned by the center for Political Parcipation at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., and conducted by Zogby International.

Some 95% believe civility in politics is important for a healthy democracy, and 87% suggest it is possible for people to disagree about politics respectfully. Some 70% support compromise solutions on a range of contentious issues. Asked if Americans should be proud or ashamed of the way elected officials handled the health care reform initiative, 69% said "ashamed" and 21% replied "proud."

The survey found that citizens who pay close attention to politics are four times as likely to say that the tone of political discourse has gotten worse than those who pay only modest attention to the news, but perceptions vary according to a respondents primary media source. Radio listeners, for instance, are much more likely to perceive a decline in civility than are newspaper readers.

"While politicians and pundits will debate the causes and impacts of the deterioration in political civility, its heartening to see that Americans--adults with widely differing demographic profiles--overwhelmingly agree that coarseness and lack of respect are unacceptable," comments Daniel M...