A Gallup survey says 52% of Americans say government should not favor any set of values, while 44% say government should promote traditional values.
Surprisingly, the number of Republicans who think government should not favor any set of values is up 14% since 2004. That's the largest gain among any group in that time frame.
The two sets of beliefs suggest the United States could be heading toward a more libertarian era, favoring less of a government role, which is consistent with the public's more permissive views on gay rights, marijuana use, and gun ownership.
However, the arrival of a more libertarian era may not be certain until Americans more consistently support a reduced government role in matters of morality, and perhaps an even stronger majority than the 54% who currently say the government should let individuals and businesses try to solve the country's problems.
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