Quinnipiac: Would Americans Stay and Fight or Flee?

[TheProle]

As the world witnesses what is happening to Ukraine, Americans were asked what they would do if they were in the same position as Ukrainians are now: stay and fight or leave the country? A majority (55 percent) say they would stay and fight, while 38 percent say they would leave the country. Republicans say 68 - 25 percent and independents say 57 - 36 percent they would stay and fight, while Democrats say 52 - 40 percent they would leave the country.

https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3838

“When confronted with a terrible hypothetical that would put them in the shoes of the Ukrainians, Americans say they would stand and fight rather than seek safety in another country,” said Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy. That’s one way to spin it, I guess. For me, the fact that just under half of my friends and neighbors would hypothetically abandon their homeland and all it stands for in the face of a foreign invader is less than encouraging. Many people don’t even seem to have hypothetical patriotism, let alone fortitude. Further disheartening is that the youngest Americans, those ages 18-34 and most physically capable, were even less likely to stay and fight. Only 45% said they would remain, while 48% would flee. Comparatively, two-thirds of the 50-to-64-year-old cohort said they would remain. That’s not wholly surprising given that so much of the recent discontentment with America is concentrated among the youth. Equally unsurprising is that political differences also play a role in willingness to defend our nation.

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article259392144.html#storylink=cpy

[Casady1]

1. big talk

American would stay and fight would be 20% tops. We are as soft as they come. many men would be dressing up as women to get the hell out of "Ukraine"

[moonscape]

2. This invasion has forced me to confront the

reality that I’m a scaredy cat. The woman with 3 children that Anderson Cooper interviews regularly, who is hiding in a basement/cellar in Kviv, shows a courage I lack. I’m awed by her and so many others.

[LizBeth]

3. I do not think that is big talk. I think that is pretty reflective.

I am old and I do not know how to fight and I am a coward not too far from Canada border. So meh, I would probably head North.

[Chainfire]

4. I am at the age where I am in my last home.

I would fight when they cross my fence. The rest of you are on your own.

I wrote the government the blank check as a young man, but it is null and void now.

[marie999]

22. I don't consider mine null and void nor do I consider that my oath will ever end.

I am a 78-year-old disabled veteran but I can still shoot.

[sarisataka]

5. Easy to answer when watching war on tv

Many who say they would fight will flee. Some who say they would flee will fight. Most people will go about their daily routine as best they can until the war reaches their front yard.

[raging moderate]

6. Maybe the young who would flee are thinking of their children's safety.

Maybe that is why so many of the younger ones would flee. And more Republicans live in sparsely populated locations with a lot of woods or swamp where a longtime resident could more easily hide. More Democrats live in densely populated cities with finely detailed published maps that make hiding more difficult.

[Kaleva]

19. I'd be staying to fight for my adult step-kids and young grandkids

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. Truly, no one knows what they would do in a war situation until it happens.

[Elessar Zappa]

23. Very true.

[highplainsdem]

8. I would fight. My dad lied about his age to enlist during WWII. He also enlisted

during the Korean War. My uncles served in WWII and the Korean War. My brothers were in Vietnam. Younger relatives have been in the National Guard.

I haven't served in the military myself, and I haven't fired a gun since I was a kid (we have hunters in the family), but I wouldn't hesitate to take up arms to fight. Or throw Molotov cocktails, or make them.

[lagomorph777]

9. We have already faced Russian attack; we have chosen to stay and fight.

Unfortunately, 40% of us chose to fight for Russia.

[Hugin]

10. +1

I'm not sure what the percentage is, 81 million of us took a swing at Pootie in Nov 2020.

[uponit7771]

14. +1, ... and republicans decided to attack the capital

[lagomorph777]

17. Physical combat on Putin's behalf.

Yep, that's certainly part of it.

[CrackityJones75]

11. More and more I find myself asking

More and more I find myself asking just what the fuck is left to fight for?

[dumbcat]

12. I ain't leaving

I stay and fight. I'm old, but have plenty of arms and ammo. I could outfit a pretty good squad in my neighborhood. We are almost all retired military veterans. It may be my time, but I'm taking a few with me.

[NickB79]

13. From a logical standpoint, the only option is to fight

Any foreign nation strong enough to put boots on US soil, the nation with the strongest military in the world, would by default be a threat to any nation on Earth. Therefore, there wouldn't be any safe place to flee to.

Thus, the only option is to stand and fight if you physically can.

[haele]

15. They say one thing in the poll, but might do another if it actually happens.

I'm reminded of great White Flight during the 1960's and 1970's, when neighborhoods started becoming more integrated.

Then, of course, there has been a real surge in extended family breakdowns due to mass media stereotypes of a nuclear family along with work and financial stressors, which can lead to a "you're grown so you're on your own" attitude amongst family and communities.

Too many people in this country have no sense of community, and certainly little sense of loyalty. Mainly because profit margins are made by isolating consumers from their human connections and gaslighting out the idea of grown-ups can have independence without responsibility.

Haele

[ruet]

16. As a 40 Percenter,...

I have to say the response from "Democrats" (if this poll is even to be believed) is borderline shameful. If accurate, It confirms every negative stereotype put forward by the RW since the Vietnam protests. ...SMDH.

[PragmaticLiberal]

18. I didn't want to say anything but yeah, I wholeheartedly agree.

[Kaleva]

20. Where could one flee to? Canada and Mexico probably wouldn't be options.

As any nation strong enough to invade the US would most likely be taking out all of North America .

Ukraine is about the size of Texas and people are struggling to cover that or part of that distance getting to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, or Romania.

Commercial air flights might not be available so travel by land is the most likely option so that limits your destination to Central America or South America .

I don't think the people who said they'd flee to another country put much thought into where they'd go and how they'd get there.

[Calculating]

21. Stay and fight obviously

If the USA is getting invaded where is there to run to? I'd get out my 'assault weapons' from the closet and they would be put to their intended use, along with other nasty surprises I know how to make for the invaders.

[Joe1017]

24. I disagree with any notion that people would flee

Right after both pearl harbor and 9/11 hundreds of thousands of Americans signed up to fight... In far away places.... I don't think there would be a problem finding volunteers to defend their homeland. Especially when we have millions of gun owners who would have a legit and legal reason to shoot people. Personally I think people would be beyond infuriated when an attacking force showed up here and started killing civilians and wrecking our homes. I know I would be.

[gopiscrap]

25. welcome to DU