In Illinois, the political dynamics seem flipped from the national narrative. Republicans are often accused of “loathing” the state, but what they’re really saying is that Illinois is off track and desperately needs fixing. Democrats, meanwhile, appear largely comfortable with the status quo. Under one-party rule, critics argue they’re not reversing the state’s decline—they’re simply managing it.
A recent CNN segment shared by Tom Elliott on X/Twitter (h/t Newsalert) highlighted a striking example of this disconnect:
CNN: "Just 27 percent of Democrats say they'll display the flag on July 4th ... just 29 percent of Democrats say they’re extremely, or very proud, to be an American." pic.twitter.com/EITuYqNRiU
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) June 17, 2026
This comes at a time when many Americans are preparing to celebrate Independence Day. The low numbers raise a troubling question: What’s behind the reluctance to fly the Stars and Stripes?
The roots may trace back to the weeks following the George Floyd riots and the early days of the Biden-Harris administration. That period saw a steady drumbeat of messaging that America is a fundamentally racist nation. For some Democrats, that narrative appears to have dampened national pride.
Another Telling Example from the World Cup
I’m not a huge soccer fan, and the U.S. has historically struggled in the World Cup (which is currently underway). I was disappointed Chicago didn’t host any matches this year, especially after participating in 1994. Still, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel may have been ahead of the curve in avoiding the event given the city’s ongoing challenges.
What’s more concerning is the attitude of certain politicians toward the tournament. A post from The Daily Caller showed two Democratic candidates for Congress openly rooting for teams other than the United States. One of them identifies as a Democratic Socialist.
Via The Daily Caller on IG.
Even if you don’t care about soccer, the symbolism matters. These individuals hope to represent Americans in Congress, yet they won’t support the American team on the world stage. Their choices reflect a deeper discomfort with embracing America.
We Must Defeat the Loathing
America remains a land of promise and opportunity. There is nowhere on Earth I would rather live. For those who genuinely loathe this country, the honest choice would be to find somewhere else they’d prefer. Most won’t—and that’s part of the problem.
Here in Illinois, this undercurrent of national skepticism feels especially strong. I’ve been thinking about ways to push back against what I see as Illinois’ version of this “loathing.” It’s a topic I plan to explore in more depth in future posts.
What do you think? Are these low levels of flag display and national pride just a temporary reaction to recent events, or do they point to something deeper in our politics and culture? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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