The other day the New York Times ran a selection of 1968 poll data on the op/ed page. In April of that year, 31% of Americans agreed that “Martin Luther King, Jr. brought his assassination on himself.”
This makes me wonder which beliefs, currently held by 30% or more of the U.S. population, will be universally considered absurd or even despicable by Americans of 2048. So, readers — nominate such beliefs in the comments. But to make it interesting, the belief has to be one which you presently hold.
Here’s mine: “People should strive to keep the details of their personal lives from becoming publicly available.”
(For more antique polling nuggets, see my previous post on Public Opinion 1935-1946.)
Quomodocumque 
I think you would find that at least 31% of Americans today believe that MLK brought his assassination upon himself. One the reasons for that assertion may have changed.
Sorry, typo combined with auto-spellchecker failure – “Only the reasons for that assertion may have changed.”
gays should not wed
atheists can not be trusted
Put your family first.
Take your vitamins.
Plagiarism is wrong.
Radical body modifications is a bad idea.
Ignoring the consequences of our actions to the environment is acceptable.
It’s OK to eat almost any amount of beef.
Oops, I forgot to read the instructions.
I’ll try again: Eating meat without thinking about how it was raised is okay.
Here’s one: use of drugs for health reasons is acceptable, but not acceptable for performance-enhancing purposes. This idea was cribbed from Judith Warner:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/opinion/27warner.html?ref=opinion
1. Ultimate Fighting is lame and depraved.
1A. Dogfighting is indefensible.
2. Tattoos on a naked person defeat the purpose of being naked. (Unless the purpose is bathing, in which case, whatever.)
3. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.
4. Toilet paper seems preferable to an anus-washing automated toilet.
1. It is reasonable to risk your life on the level of driving to work (in modern traffic conditions) or playing contact sports.
2. It is socially acceptable to maintain a lawn, or play golf.
3. The computers are our friends.
1. People who don’t have children by age 35, or a full-time job by age 26, are not really successful.
2. Children should use the internet very little; probably only for schoolwork.
3. Aches, pains, and loss of memory and libido are normal parts of growing old.
4. Not knowing the Bible well is terrible if you live in the US.