What's the best, worst thing US has done in 250 years? Tell us. | Opinion
What is the best, or most impactful, thing the United States has done in its 250-year history? What is the worst? Where do you hope our country goes from here? Scroll down to submit your answers.
Janessa HilliardAre you proud to be an American?
These days, it seems more and more of us aren’t.
A recent NBC News poll found 33% of respondents were “extremely proud” to be an American, while 23% were “very proud” and 10% declared themselves “not proud at all.”
A 2025 Gallup poll found that American pride had slipped to a 24-year low, with 41% affirming they were “extremely proud” and 17% saying they were “very” proud ‒ down from 55% and 32%, respectively, when Gallup first began asking the question in 2001.
This decrease in patriotism is particularly present among millennials and Gen Z, who are far less likely to describe themselves as patriotic than their Gen X and baby boomer counterparts.
At 250, how do you feel about America?
As I’m sure you’ve heard, our country turns 250 this July 4. And while the Algerian national team for the World Cup is bringing out the best of us in Lawrence, Kansas, there’s been no shortage of think pieces on what our nation must do now for the American experiment to survive the next 250. So we figured we’d go directly to the source: our fellow Americans.
Tell us, on the eve of our 250th birthday, how do you feel about the United States of America?
- Are you proud to be an American? Why or why not? What is the best thing about America?
- What does being patriotic mean to you today, amid declining patriotism?
- What is the best, or most impactful, thing the United States has done in its 250-year history? What is the worst? Where do you hope our country goes from here?
- Do you believe our democracy is in danger? Or is this overblown rhetoric to score political points?
- How do you feel about the competing celebrations of our semiquincentennial – America250 and the President Donald Trump-led Freedom 250? Do you think the UFC fight on the White House lawn and the Great American State Fair – which several states are now skipping – are the right ways to honor our founding?
Scroll down to submit your answers, or send us an email at [email protected] using the subject line “Forum America 250”. You can also leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923. We’ll publish a collection of your responses, so we may reach out to you about yours.
Janessa Hilliard is the director of audience for USA TODAY Opinion and Opinion at USA TODAY Co.