Poll shows we Americans are, um, interesting

We're a strange lot.

Americans, I mean — no geographical difference and no particular political leaning.

All of us.

This isn't just a wild opinion, either. Today I have some proof, of sorts.

A Fox News Poll was conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research and Shaw & Company Research, and it pretty much makes my point.

The poll was conducted by telephone with live interviewers from Aug. 27-29, among a random national sample of 1,006 registered voters.

Some of the political stuff was ho-hum, sorry, we already knew that.

Yes, Republicans think President Trump is doing a good job.

No, Democrats don't agree.

And of course, everyone knows that Trump's overall popularity in the country is not exactly sizzling at the moment.

However, this poll happily wanders off in different directions, through a maze of 59 questions that touch on everything from Confederate flags to your vacation plans.

IN FACT, maybe the very last question — the one about Americans off on holidays — explains why we're all a little batty.

Paraphrasing a fairly long question, it basically asks if you check your email every day, or you just enjoy the time off and deal with that long list of messages when you get home.

No less than 45 percent of respondents said they go through their emails every single day while on vacation.

Think about it: Nearly half the people in this country are checking phones, tablets or computers (and typing responses) instead of relaxing on Maui or riding a gondola in Venice.

No wonder we're a stressed-out bunch.

Right, I've already mentioned Confederate flags, so I won't keep you in suspense about how the populace feels about that subject.

Asked about their reaction to seeing a Confederate flag, only 11 percent of Americans felt positive, while 36 percent had a negative reaction and 53 percent claimed they didn't care one way or the other.

Bottom line, though, was that barely one person in 10 liked seeing that flag. Bad karma from the Civil War, you'd think.

Ah, but...

The next question was whether the public thought Confederate statues and monuments should stay up or be taken down.

Amazingly, 61 percent said all these icons should be left in place, while 29 percent advocated getting rid of them.

So what's our takeaway here?

We hate seeing the Confederate flag, but kneel in worship at a statue of Jefferson Davis?

Lord knows.

I'D HOPED to avoid any questions about President Trump here, but one series of responses is just so bizarre that it has to be mentioned.

When asked about Trump's individual qualities, a majority of U.S. voters questioned in this poll said they believed the president is a bully, that he's unstable and that he's tearing the country apart.

The same solid majority also insisted Trump was not honest, not compassionate, not presidential, not a steady leader, and not a moral leader.

Those answers sound like they should apply to the leader of a military junta in South America.

And yet...

No less than 54 percent of respondents said they believed Trump was competent.

Wait a second here.

So as a country, we're not looking for stability, morality, compassion, honesty, humility, acting presidential or keeping the country together in our leader?

Say WHAT?

Apparently no other positive personal qualities are necessary for competency to lead the free world.

Or at least, that's what Americans told the pollsters.

(And before you Republicans complain, remember that this was a Fox News Poll — so please don't shoot the messenger!)

Finally, we'll leave you with an absolute head-scratcher.

On July 17, 68 percent of the population claimed to be frightened of a war with North Korea.

On Aug. 17, the number of worried citizens had dropped to 59 percent.

Obviously, I missed that Kim Jong-un peace initiative, eh?

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Steve Cameron is a special assignment columnist and reporter for The Press. Reach Steve at: scameron@cdapress.com