Judging by the following survey results, it would appear that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents share the same basic values and principles, except for patriotism:

But most Republicans and Independents consider Democrats rather lukewarm in their appreciation of these values and principles.

And most Democrats and Independents consider Republicans rather tepid as well.

Why the disconnect? Are we wrong to doubt each other?

No.

The ‘values and principles’ in this survey are moral generalities. While these generalities help guide and organize moral judgments, they gain emotional force when they bring to mind specific instances and violations. That disparate political groups share a moral foundation doesn’t require they agree on moral priorities, what government policies to support, or what policy trade-offs are acceptable or not.

So it doesn’t surprise me that political groups can agree on the same moral basics but still doubt each other’s moral commitments. This doubt may not reflect a misunderstanding or lack of trust but real disagreement on how foundational values and principles should be applied in real life.

I’ll close with a few examples:

Accountable Government:

  • Failure to secure America’s borders has impacted citizens across the country. The Heritage Foundation

  •  Donald Trump and his team have given lack of accountability a new meaning in America. Their refusal to accept the slightest responsibility for Covid-19’s rampage. The Nation 

Representative Government:  

  • Bureaucrats Are Not Representatives of the People (Headline) National Review

  • The Constitution created an unusual mechanism for electing the president — an electoral college. It was built on assumptions that over the years have proved to be faulty. The Washington Post  

Law Applied Fairly

  • "Trump is very unpopular in Manhattan, and has acted boorishly and foolishly in verbally attacking parties, judges, court clerks and their families. But the law must be applied fairly and evenly to all parties, even those who are locally unpopular, and it is the District Attorney’s responsibility to assure equal treatment under the law." Quoted by Fox News

  •  We all expect justice to be blind. Otherwise, it’s not justice at all. Yet geography, poverty, and race continue to determine who lives and who dies. Equal Justice USA