Here is a Gallup Poll result, not exactly on topic but related and interesting: "Americans have shifted back to thinking the government should promote traditional values in society (53%) rather than not favor any set of values (42%). Last year, Americans were evenly divided in their views. Political independents and moderates are largely driving the change." This is part of a larger trend.

Gallup has found several instances this year in which Americans' positions on policy issues -- including moral issues such as abortion and stem cell research, but also global warming, defense, and taxes -- have changed. On most of these issues, the changes have been toward a more conservative point of view. This could reflect an adjustment or moderation in the public's policy preferences in response to the change from a Republican to a Democratic presidential administration. That is, people with more moderate or loosely held issue positions may be perceiving that government policy is moving (too far) in one direction, and may be attempting to "balance" this by moving their own positions in the other direction. The fact that most of the movement on the "government role in promoting morality" question comes from independents and moderates is consistent with this possibility.

That is an interesting hypothesis. As the ship lists to the left, the passengers run to the right to balance it out.