One-third of Americans think animals should have the same rights as people

That figure comes from a Gallup poll released Tuesday in which 32 percent of Americans said animals deserve "the exact same rights as people to be free from harm and exploitation." Sixty-two percent said animals deserve "some" protection but could still be used for the benefit of humans.

Meanwhile, in a Gallup poll from 2012, only five percent of Americans said they were vegetarians. Meaning, either a bunch of people aren't sure what they believe, or a bunch of people think human rights do not include a protection against being eaten. Put a more Orwellian way, the latter explanation essentially amounts to a belief that all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up