Probing the Signs of the Times

Nothing is more calming than walking around my Bucks County, Pa., neighborhood in October, leaf-peeping and admiring crafty Halloween displays amid the well-landscaped, Colonial homes of my neighbors. As the fall foliage peaks, trees’ crimson, burnt orange, and golden leaves cascade to the sidewalk and street, gently crunching under my feet — a quiet kind of bliss. Attracting wider interest, Bucks was recently named the No. 1 fall foliage destination in the United States by Travel & Leisure magazine.

Bucks, an Exurb, is also considered a bellwether county in this election cycle. Yard signs for Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris have popped up around my well-worn paths, about an equal number for both presidential candidates. A few front lawns hold two prominently placed signs for one candidate; a flag imprinted with a candidate’s logo hangs outside another house. In our polarized political climate, I’m intrigued by these silent, proud statements within my tranquil neighborhood — displaying a sign or flag is not like marking and sealing a ballot in your home or choosing a candidate in the privacy of the voting booth.

As I walk by, I wonder what it is about the candidate that deeply resonates with the home dweller to erect a sign in the first place. Is it his or her vision for America? Is it a position on a select issue or two, e.g., affordability, immigration, abortion, the 2020 election? Is it the candidate’s character or campaign-and-governing style? Perhaps everything above?

Beyond that, I’m curious about the lived experiences of my neighbors I haven’t met. Who’s in their social circle? How often do they connect with friends? What involvements do they have in my community? Are they personally connected to the candidate’s campaign, contributing in other ways? What media do they consume and how often? What’s their occupation? Their family composition? Their ability to save and spend? What gives them hope? What worries them most?

In the American Communities Project’s latest survey of 5,000+ Americans, we probe their hopes, fears, and social circles, and how these shape different community views of key issues. By digging into respondents’ values and concerns, we seek to move past myths, assumptions, and stereotypes toward a finer understanding of ourselves and the country as a whole.

I invite you to take a look here.