Political ideologies in the United States vary considerably. Persons in the U. S. generally classify themselves either as adhering to American liberalism, American conservatism or as moderates. Liberalism in the United States is a broad political and philosophical mindset favoring individual Liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty whether they come from Conservatism in the United States includes a variety of political ideologies including Fiscal conservatism, Supply-side economics, Social conservatism American liberalism aims at the preservation and extension of human, social and civil rights as well as the government guaranteed provision of positive rights. Some philosophers and political scientists make a distinction between negative and positive Rights, not to be confused with the similar but different distinction between It combines social progressivism and to some extent, ordoliberalism and is highly similar to European social liberalism of parties like the British Liberal Democrats, Dutch Democrats 66 and Belgian Flemish Liberals and Democrats. Social progressivism is the view that social Mores, Human nature, and Morality are capable of progress through history in a manner similar to that of scientific Ordoliberalism (also called German neoliberalism) is a school of Liberalism emphasizing the need for the state to ensure that the Free market produces results Social liberalism, also called new liberalism (as it was originally termed high liberalism radical liberalism, modern liberalism, or The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Democrats 66 ( D66, Democraten 66 official name Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive, social-liberal and The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those The Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten or OpenVLD ( Flemish Liberals and Democrats) is a Flemish liberal party, created in 1992 American conservatism commonly refers to a combination of economic liberalism and social conservatism. Economic liberalism is the Economic component of Classical liberalism. Social conservatism is a political or moral ideology that affirms the government's role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors in the belief that these are what Yet, these classifications do not accurately reflect the ideological diversity of American society. The ideological position a person or party takes may be described in terms of social and economic policy. The ideological positions a person assumes on social and economic policy issues may differ in their position on the political spectrum. Milton Friedman, for example, was left-of-center on social issues but right-of-center on fiscal matters. Milton Friedman (July 31 1912 November 16 2006 was an American Nobel Laureate Economist and Public intellectual. [1] Several ideological demographics may be identified in addition to or as subgroups of liberals and conservatives with nearly every possible ideology being found in the general population. The U. S. has a de facto two-party system. The Democratic Party generally represents liberal ideals, while the Republican Party commonly represents conservative ideals. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. As of 2004, the Democratic Party had 77 million registered members, followed by 55 million Republicans and 42 million independents, including those with other party affiliations. [2] Smaller parties such as the Libertarian Party and the Greens play a minor role in American politics and are not deemed able to capture the presidency. The Libertarian Party is a United States political party founded on December 11 1971 One of the Political parties in the United States, and similar in mission to many of the worldwide Green Parties, the Greens have been active as a third party [3]
The size of ideological groups varies slightly depending on the poll. According to a 2007 poll, 35% of Americans identified as moderate, 36% as "conservative" and 25% as "liberal. "[4] In a 2005 study, the Pew Research Center identified nine typological groups. The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D Three groups were identified as part of each, "the left," "the middle," and "the right. " In this categorization system, "the right" roughly represents the Republican base, those on the "the left" the Democratic base and those in "the middle" independents. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Within the left are the largely secular and anti-war "Liberals", the socially conservative but fiscally left-leaning "Conservative Democrats", and the economically "Disadvantaged Democrats" who favor an extended welfare state. In "the middle" are the optimistic and upwardly mobile "Upbeats", the discouraged and mistrusting "Disaffecteds," and the disenfranchised "Bystanders. " The right compromises the highly patriotic and pro-business "Enterprisers," the highly religious "Social Conservatives" (also known as the Christian right), and the "Pro-Government Conservatives" who are largely conservative on social issues but support government intervention to better their economic disposition. The Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe a spectrum of right-wing Christian political and social movements and [5]
Contents |
Typological groups
| The Right | Persons (%) | Voters (%) | Income of $75k+ | College degree | Married with Children | Voted for Bush (%) | Voted for Kerry (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprisers | 9% | 11% | 41% | 46% | 40% | 92% | 1% |
| Social Conservatives | 11% | 13% | 30% | 28% | 28% | 86% | 4% |
| Pro-Government Conservatives | 9% | 10% | 10% | 15% | 34% | 61% | 12% |
| The Middle | Persons (%) | Voters (%) | Income of $75k+ | College degree | Married with Children | Voted for Bush (%) | Voted for Kerry (%) |
| Upbeats | 11% | 13% | 39% | 37% | 28% | 63% | 14% |
| Disaffecteds | 9% | 10% | 13% | 11% | 22% | 42% | 21% |
| Bystanders | 10% | 0% | 8% | 13% | 28% | * | * |
| The Left | Persons (%) | Voters (%) | Income of $75k+ | College degree | Married with Children | Voted for Bush (%) | Voted for Kerry (%) |
| Conservative Democrats | 14% | 15% | 15% | 16% | 28% | 14% | 65% |
| Disadvantaged Democrats | 10% | 10% | 8% | 13% | 23% | 2% | 82% |
| Liberals | 17% | 19% | 41% | 49% | 20% | 2% | 81% |
| Demographic | Total | The Right | The Middle | The Left | Bystanders | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprisers | Social Conservatives | Pro-Government Conservatives | Upbeats | Disaffecteds | Conservative Democrats | Disadvantaged Democrats | Liberals | ||||
| Race | |||||||||||
| White | 80% | 91% | 91% | 85% | 87% | 81% | 64% | 58% | 83% | 80% | |
| Black | 12% | 1% | 4% | 10% | 7% | 7% | 30% | 32% | 6% | 7% | |
| Hispanic | 10% | 5% | 7% | 12% | 7% | 8% | 11% | 14% | 9% | 20% | |
| Other | 6% | 4% | 7% | 3% | 6% | 9% | 5% | 9% | 9% | 11% | |
| Region | |||||||||||
| East | 19% | 17% | 14% | 18% | 21% | 21% | 21% | 19% | 24% | 16% | |
| Midwest | 24% | 22% | 22% | 23% | 28% | 27% | 23% | 32% | 20% | 19% | |
| South | 35% | 34% | 47% | 42% | 33% | 30% | 41% | 35% | 22% | 35% | |
| West | 22% | 27% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 22% | 15% | 14% | 34% | 30% | |
| Sex | |||||||||||
| Male | 48% | 76% | 42% | 38% | 50% | 57% | 44% | 40% | 46% | 48% | |
| Female | 52% | 24% | 58% | 62% | 50% | 43% | 56% | 60% | 54% | 52% | |
| Age | |||||||||||
| 18-29 | 21% | 10% | 13% | 24% | 26% | 12% | 17% | 17% | 28% | 39% | |
| 30-49 | 39% | 46% | 37% | 39% | 36% | 34% | 37% | 37% | 40% | 40% | |
| 50-64 | 22% | 24% | 21% | 22% | 21% | 27% | 23% | 30% | 21% | 12% | |
| 65 and older | 16% | 18% | 26% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 23% | 13% | 10% | 8% | |
Prominent ideologies
Liberalism and conservatism are the most common ideologies in the U. S. apart from those who identify as moderate. Individuals embrace each ideology to widely varying extents. Liberals and progressives commonly advocate strong civil liberties, social progressivism, cultural pluralism, government ensuring of positive rights (education, health care, etc. thumb| |Broken Liberty Istanbul Archaeology Museum Civil liberties are freedoms that protect the Individual from the Government. Social progressivism is the view that social Mores, Human nature, and Morality are capable of progress through history in a manner similar to that of scientific Cultural pluralism is a term used when small groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities . . ) and a mixed economy. A mixed economy is an Economic system that incorporates aspects of more than one economic system [6] Conservatives commonly defend the status quo, advocating more religious and traditional stands on social issues and less government intervention in the economy. [5] Moderates, who may be left or right leaning, incorporate different aspects from liberalism and conservatism into their personal perspective. According to recent polls moderates are commonly identified as the second largest group, closely trailing conservatives, constituting between 36% and 39% of the population. [4][7] Moderates are commonly defined through limiting the extent to which they adopt liberal and conservative ideas. CNN exit polls have found moderates to be rather evenly divided between the country's two main parties. [8][9][10] Even though liberals are the most educated and affluent ideological demographic, moderates tend to become increasingly conservative with increased economic prosperity,[5] causing the professional class to be split between Republicans and Democrats. The American middle class is an ambiguously defined Social class in the United States. [11] Among those who do identify as either liberal or conservative few identify as "far left" or "far right. " Most Americans either identify as "moderate" or as "somewhat" liberal or conservative. [4] While often not mentioned in major polls and less organized than liberal or conservatives, Libertarians are a significant minority, constituting roughly 13% of the electorate. Libertarianism is a term used by a broad spectrum of political philosophies which prioritize individual Liberty and seek to minimize or even abolish the Libertarians commonly hold liberal views on social issues but conservative views on economic issues. Since the 1980s a majority of Libertarians have favored the Republican Party, although in recent years, the margin favoring the Republicans has begun to shrink because of the Libertarian's opposition to many recent Republican supported social issues. [12]
Liberalism
Liberalism in the U. S. is most commonly characterized by a mixture of social liberalism and progressivism, with a strong (if frequently unrecognized) ordoliberal streak. Social liberalism, also called new liberalism (as it was originally termed high liberalism radical liberalism, modern liberalism, or In US history the term Progressivism refers to a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th century Ordoliberalism (also called German neoliberalism) is a school of Liberalism emphasizing the need for the state to ensure that the Free market produces results Less frequently it may also describe forms of classic and neoliberalism. Classical liberalism (also known as traditional liberalism, Laissez-faire liberalism, Market liberalism or in much of the world Originally coined by its critics and opponents " neoliberalism " is a label referring to the recent reemergence of Economic liberalism or Classical liberalism Liberals in the United States advocate strong civil liberties and social progressivism according to which societal practices need to be changed whenever necessary for the greater good of society or the benefits of those who wish to engage in those social arrangements. thumb| |Broken Liberty Istanbul Archaeology Museum Civil liberties are freedoms that protect the Individual from the Government. Social progressivism is the view that social Mores, Human nature, and Morality are capable of progress through history in a manner similar to that of scientific They believe that government action is needed in order for people to be as free as possible. Government must thereby ensure the provision of positive rights, protect civil liberties and ensure equality. Some philosophers and political scientists make a distinction between negative and positive Rights, not to be confused with the similar but different distinction between American liberals commonly reject both laissez-faire capitalism and socialism as means to distribute economic resources. Laissez-faire ( pronunciation: French,; English,) is a French phrase literally meaning Let do (“allow to do” Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution A mixed economy, that is a capitalist free market economy with limited government regulation and intervention is seen as the ideal. A mixed economy is an Economic system that incorporates aspects of more than one economic system Recently, there has been a strong movement among liberals against corporate welfare, which is generally favored by pro-government conservatives. Corporate welfare is a term describing a government's bestowal of money grants tax breaks, or other special favorable treatment on Corporations or select corporations Cultural pluralism is quite common among American liberals. Cultural pluralism is a term used when small groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities [6] A majority of liberals favor diplomacy over military action, stem-cell research, the legalization of same-sex marriage, secular government, stricter gun control and environmental protection laws as well as the preservation of abortion rights. Stem cells are cells found in most if not all multi-cellular Organisms. Same-sex marriage (also referred to as gay marriage) is a term for a legally or Socially recognized Marriage between two people of the same Gun politics is a set of legal issues surrounding the ownership use and regulation of firearms as well as safety issues related to firearms both through their direct use and through They tend to be rather divided on free trade agreements and organizations such as NAFTA. Most liberals oppose increased military standing and the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings. Immigration and cultural diversity is deemed positive. As a result liberals favor cultural pluralism, a system in which immigrants retain their native culture in addition to adopting their new culture. Cultural pluralism is a term used when small groups within a larger society maintain their unique cultural identities
| “ | Liberalism wagers that a state. . . can be strong but constrained – strong because constrained. . . Rights to education and other requirements for human development and security aim to advance equal opportunity and personal dignity and to promote a creative and productive society. To guarantee those rights, liberals have supported a wider social and economic role for the state, counterbalanced by more robust guarantees of civil liberties and a wider social system of checks and balances anchored in an independent press and pluralistic society. - Paul Starr, sociologist at Princeton University, The New Republic, March 2007 | ” |
According to the Pew Research Center liberals particularly distinguished from any other typographic group by their socially progressive viewpoints. Paul Starr ( May 12, 1949) is a Pulitzer Prize -winning professor of Sociology and public affairs at Princeton University Princeton University is a private Coeducational research university located in Princeton, New Jersey. The New Republic ( TNR) is an American Magazine of politics and the arts Social progressivism is the view that social Mores, Human nature, and Morality are capable of progress through history in a manner similar to that of scientific In 2004, liberals were the only group to advocate same sex marriage and euthanasia, a policy regarded as left of the Democratic Party. Among the most prominent liberal periodicals are The Nation, The American Prospect, The New Republic, and the Washington Post, as well as the New York Times. This article is about the US Publication. For other newspapers magazines and alternate uses by the same name see The Nation (disambiguation. The American Prospect is a monthly American political Magazine dedicated to liberalism. The New Republic ( TNR) is an American Magazine of politics and the arts The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D The New Republic described its political standing, giving a brief overview of contemporary American liberalism, in a June 2006 editorial stating it was "very much against the Bush tax programs, against Bush Social Security 'reform,' against cutting the inheritance tax, for radical health care changes, passionate about Gore-type environmentalism, for a woman's entitlement to an abortion, for gay marriage, for an increase in the minimum wage, for pursuing aggressively alternatives to our present reliance on oil and our present tax preferences for gas-guzzling automobiles. Modern liberalism in the United States, also referred to as American liberalism, is a political ideology that seeks to use the power of the state to effect change upon society "[14]
| “ | [Liberals are] Predominantly white (83%), most highly educated group (49% have a college degree or more), and youngest group after Bystanders. Least religious group in typology: 43% report they seldom or never attend religious services; nearly a quarter (22%) are seculars. More than one-third never married (36%). Largest group residing in urban areas (42%) and in the western half the country (34%). Wealthiest Democratic group (41% earn at least $75,000). - Pew Research Center | ” |
Roughly 19% to 26% of the American public is liberal depending on survey and method. [4]Liberals vote mostly in favor of the Democratic Party constituting roughly 43% of the Democratic base. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. [5][8][9][10] Liberalism tends to be most prominent in academia and among the well educated. The educational attainment of the US population is similar to that of many other industrialized countries with the vast majority of the population having completed secondary education [15] In 2004, 72% of full-time faculty members at four-year colleges identified as liberal. The meaning of the word professor ( Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science teacher of highest rank) varies [16] In a 2004 survey of 1,000 economists registered Democrats outnumbered registered Republicans by a 2. An economist is an expert in the Social science of Economics. 5 to 1 ratio. The majority of economists favored "safety regulations, gun control, redistribution, public schooling, and anti-discrimination laws," while opposing "tighter immigration controls, government ownership of enterprise and tariffs. "[17] Among sociologists and anthropologists, Democrats outnumber Republicans 20 to 1. [18] Analysis of survey results show a strong correlation between education and ideology. Generally, the more educated a person is, the more likely he or she is to be liberal. [19]
Over the past decades the political outlook of Americans has become more progressive, with those below the age of thirty being considerably more liberal than the overall population. According to recent polls 56% of those age 18 to 29 favor gay marriage, 68% state environmental protection to be as important as job creation, 52% "think immigrants 'strengthen the country with their hard work and talents,'" 62% favor "tax financed, government-administrated universal health care" program and 74% "say 'people's will' should have more influence on U. S. laws than the bible, compared to 37%, 49%, 38%, 47% and 58% among the general population. [20]
Conservatism
In the United States modern conservatism coalesced in the latter half of the 20th century, responding over time to the political and social change associated with events such as the Great Depression, tension with the Soviet Union in the Cold War, the American Civil Rights Movement, the counterculture of the 1960s, the deregulation of the economy in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the overthrow of the New Deal Coalition in the 1980s, and the terrorist threat of the 21st century. Conservatism in the United States includes a variety of political ideologies including Fiscal conservatism, Supply-side economics, Social conservatism New Right is used in several countries as a descriptive term for various forms of conservative right-wing or self-proclaimed dissident oppositional movements and groups that emerged The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the The American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968 refers to the reform movements in the United States aimed at abolishing racial discrimination against African Counterculture (also " counter-culture " is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a Cultural group, or Deregulation, a term which gained widespread currency in the period 1970-2000 can be seen as a process by which governments remove reduce or simplify Restrictions on Business The New Deal coalition was the alignment of interest groups and voting blocs that supported the New Deal and voted for Democratic presidential candidates from 1932 The War on Terrorism (also known as the War on Terror) is the common term for the military political and legal, and ideological conflict and specifically for U Some of the most supported political issues among conservatives are economic liberalism, fiscal conservatism, and a form of social conservatism that is more appealing to the Christian Right. Economic liberalism is the Economic component of Classical liberalism. Fiscal conservatism (also known as economic conservatism is a political phrase term used in North America to describe advocacy of lower governmental spending practices and a Social conservatism is a political or moral ideology that affirms the government's role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors in the belief that these are what The Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe a spectrum of right-wing Christian political and social movements and Conservatives tend to believe in a higher level of independence and self-reliance, and believe that the government should not get involved private economic matters. Conservatives generally believe that having more economic freedom and a less social government will lead to a more responsible and efficient society. Economic freedom is freedom to produce trade and consume any goods and services acquired without the use of force fraud or theft For this reason, most American conservatives believe in economic liberalism and fiscal conservatism. Economic liberalism is the Economic component of Classical liberalism. Fiscal conservatism (also known as economic conservatism is a political phrase term used in North America to describe advocacy of lower governmental spending practices and a
The word "conservative" comes from "conserve," hence describing those who generally wish to conserve the status quo as well as conserve money by cutting excessive government spending on perceived unnecessary things. Recently, however, more and more conservatives have advocated policy that would quickly and dramatically change society. Views on policies vary among different sub-groups. Enterprisers, for example, are more likely to oppose a universal health coverage program, while Social Conservatives are in strong support of such legislation. Universal health care is health care coverage which is extended to all eligible residents of a governmental region Overall, a majority of conservatives oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage, raising taxes as a method to balance the budget, while favoring increased military spending, supporting tax-cuts to allow economic stimulation by providing the tax payers with extra money that they are more likely to spend (as opposed to tax increases), restricting abortion options (many conservatives want to ban abortion altogether), and oppose stricter gun control laws often pleading that it is an infringement on the rights granted in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. A tax cut is a reduction in taxes. Economic stimulus via tax cuts along with interest rate intervention and deficit spending are one of the central tenets of Keynesian economics An The Second Amendment (Amendment II to the United States Constitution is a part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the pre-existing Conservatives are more likely to find the use of torture on suspected terrorists as an interrogation method usually justifiable, while most Social Conservatives favor teaching the conception of Creationism instead of the theory of Evolution in public schools. "Creationism" can also refer to Creation myths in general or to a concept about the origin of the soul. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 [5] Most conservatives in the United States are opposed to affirmative action, believing it to be unfair and that it only further promotes racism and discrimination. Affirmative action in the United States|Employment equity (Canada|Reservation in India|Numerus clausus The term affirmative action describes many policies aimed at a historically A race-blind system of meritocracy is now embraced by many American conservatives, as most believe it to be more fair and productive. Meritocracy is a system of a government or another organization wherein Appointments are made and responsibilities are given based on demonstrated talent and Ability Conservatives also tend to be more willing to display the American flag than Liberals by a wide margin. Three-quarters or more of the GOP groups (Enterprisers, Social and Pro-Government Conservatives) say they display the flag at home, at work, or on their car. Democratic groups show more variation: 72% of Conservative Democrats say they display the American flag, compared with 53% of Disadvantaged Democrats while just 41% of Liberals say they display the flag. [21]
| “ | The value gaps for the GOP are, perhaps surprisingly, greatest with respect to the role of government. The Republicans' bigger tent now includes more lower-income voters than it once did, and many of these voters favor an activist government to help working class people. Government regulation to protect the environment is an issue with particular potential to divide Republicans. On this issue, wide divisions exist both within the GOP and among right-of-center voters more generally. . . Yet Republicans also have much in common beyond their overwhelming support for a muscular foreign policy and broad agreement on social issues. - Pew Research Center, 2005 | ” |
Roughly one third, 36%, to 40% of the American public identify as "conservative. The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D " Conservatives commonly outnumber liberals in the general public with both ideological groupings being outnumbered by centrists. [4] The military-industrial complex in particular remains a conservative bastion[22][23] A 2003 survey by the Military Times found that the "military considers itself clearly more conservative and Republican. " In a December 2006 poll, 46% of active personnel identified as Republican, down from 60% in 2004. [24] In the 2000, 2004 and 2006 elections CNN exit polls found that roughly 80% of self-described conservatives voted Republican. [8][9][10] A study by the Pew Research Center, where research assigned typological classifications based on responses to policy and ideological questions, found that a significant percentage of Democratic voters were social conservatives who only voted for the Democratic party due to their more left-leaning economic methods, as well as their long time affiliation with the party especially among Dixiecrats and African-Americans. The States' Rights Democratic Party (commonly known as the Dixiecrats) was a segregationist, socially conservative Political party African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa This study divided conservatives into four groups: Enterprisers, Social Conservatives, Pro-Government Conservatives, and Conservative Democrats. Of the conservative groups, Conservative Democrats were the most common typological group comprising 14% of respondents while Enterprisers and Pro-Government Conservatives were the least common among the conservative groups at 9%. Enterprisers had the second highest percentage of college graduates (46%) behind Liberals, and were tied with Liberals percentage wise on those who have household incomes of $75,000 or more (41%), while actually having a higher percentage of people who have household incomes of $50,000 or more (62%). All conservative demographics were religious with less than 10% of respondents identifying as "secular," compared to 22% among liberals. [5]
| “ | [Enterprisers are] Predominantly white (91%), male (76%) and financially well-off (62% have household incomes of at least $50,000, compared with 40% nationwide). Nearly half (46%) have a college degree, and 77% are married. Nearly a quarter (23%) are themselves military veterans. Only 10% are under age 30. - Pew Research Center, 2005 | ” |
| “ | [Social Conservatives are] Predominantly white (91%), female (58%) and the oldest of all groups (average age is 52; 47% are 50 or older); nearly half live in the South. The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D Most (53%) attend church weekly; 43% are white evangelical Protestants (double the national average of 21%). - Pew Research Center, 2005 | ” |
| “ | [Pro-Government Conservatives are] Predominately female (62%) and relatively young; highest percentage of minority members of any Republican-leaning group (10% black, 12% Hispanic). The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D Most (59%) have no more than a high school diploma. Poorer than other Republican groups; nearly half (49%) have household incomes of less than $30,000 (about on par with Disadvantaged Democrats). Nearly half (47%) are parents of children living at home; 42% live in the South. - Pew Research Center, 2005 | ” |
| “ | Older women and blacks make up a sizeable proportion of [Conservative Democrats] (27% and 30%, respectively). The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D Somewhat less educated and poorer than the nation overall. Allegiance to the Democratic party is quite strong (51% describe themselves as "strong" Democrats) but fully 85% describe themselves as either conservative or moderate ideologically. - Pew Research Center, 2005 | ” |
It is also shown by the Pew Research Center that conservatives tend to have stronger belief in personal empowerment than liberals. The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D Among the wealthiest and most educated group of conservatives, the Enterprisers, 95% believed that most people can get ahead in life if they work hard. Despite having similar income and education levels, only 53% of Liberals agreed with Enterprisers on the issue while 39% disagreed and another 5% refused to answer[25]. Even among the poorest and least educated groups of both the conservatives (the Pro-Government Conservatives) and the left-wing (the Disadvantaged Democrats) these differences in opinion about personal empowerment are apparent. While 74% of Pro-Government Conservatives believed that people can get ahead with hard work, only 14% of Disadvantaged Democrats agreed while 79% disagreed and the other 7% refused to answer[26]. This more pessimistic outlook upon life among members of the left-wing would further explain Liberal's strong willingness to financially support those suffering from poverty by way of social welfare and offer an advantage for minorities by way of affirmative action. Welfare is financial assistance paid to people by governments Affirmative action in the United States|Employment equity (Canada|Reservation in India|Numerus clausus The term affirmative action describes many policies aimed at a historically This would also explain Disadvantaged Democrats strong support for additional economic support from the government for the lower class, and would also explain their support for a system that may improve their situation based on their gender and/or racial background. The concept of a lower class in the United States is used to describe those at or near the lower end of the socio-economic hierarchy.
Demographics of ideological groups
- Further information: Demography of the United States
The socially progressive Liberals and staunchly conservative Enterprisers are tied as the two most affluent groups, while Liberals are the most educated. Liberals have a slightly higher percentage of college graduates than Enterprisers; 49% of versus 46% of Enterprisers. Bystanders, those who chose not to participate in the political process, have the least percentage of college graduates (11%) and are tied with Disadvantaged Democrats as the most financially distressed. [5] Generally, education and affluence increase the chances of an individual to be politically active. The professional class, which is relatively evenly divided among Democrats and Republicans,[11] is among the most politically active,[27] while those in the lower class - the working poor and underclass - commonly abstain from taking part in the political process. [28] The working class has become less politically active, partially due to a decline in the prevalence of labor unions. Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types Labor unions in the United States function as legally recognized representatives of workers in numerous industries [29] As a result, the American electorate is considerably more affluent and educated than the general population. In the 2006 mid-term elections, for example, those with graduate degrees, who constitute 9% of the general population age 25 or older, comprised 16% of the electorate. [10] All sizable socio-economic groups were relatively split between the two major parties in the 2000, 2004 and 2006 elections. [8][9][10] Interestingly education, up to the undergraduate level, increased both a person's chances of being liberal[19] and of him or her voting Republican. The contradiction is explained through moderate voters who tend to become more conservative as they become more economically prosperous. [5] At the post-graduate level, liberals outnumber conservatives and a majority commonly votes Democratic. [8][9][10]
Ideological groups are distinguished by certain societal attributes, such as religion, marital status, education, and gun ownership, yet are relatively similar in terms of race and ethnicity. Lightmatter Hsi Lai Temple 4jpg|thumb|200px| Hsi Lai Temple (lit The development of the culture of the United States of America — music, cinema, dance, architecture, literature, poetry The educational attainment of the US population is similar to that of many other industrialized countries with the vast majority of the population having completed secondary education Gun politics in the United States, incorporating the political aspects of Gun politics, and firearms rights has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues The United States is a racially diverse country There is an extensive history of race-based Slavery, the abolishment of it and its economic Generally liberals were more likely to be secular, single and in possession of a college degree, while less likely to own a gun. Bachelor's degree or higher is a commonly used term by the US Census Bureau and other United States government agencies on the federal as well as state and local level Conservatives, most of whom adhere to social as well as fiscal conservatism, tended to be far more religious and more likely to be married and own firearms. Social conservatism is a political or moral ideology that affirms the government's role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors in the belief that these are what Fiscal conservatism (also known as economic conservatism is a political phrase term used in North America to describe advocacy of lower governmental spending practices and a The majority of Social Conservatives and Pro-Government Conservatives attended church services once a week. Weekly churchgoers were also in the plurality among the general population and all ideological demographics, except liberals. Of liberals, a plurality, 43% attended church services "seldom or never," compared to 25% of respondents overall. Conservatives were also more likely to be married than Liberals or the Democratic voter base in general. The vast majority, 77% of Enterprisers were married compared to 44% of Liberals. Disadvantaged and Conservative Democrats had the highest union membership rates, 23% and 18%, compared to an overall 14%, respectively, as well as the highest percentage of minorities (Disadvantaged Democrats 55% Black, Hispanic, and Other; Conservative Democrats 46% Black, Hispanic, and Other). In terms of gun ownership, the majority of Enterprisers and Social Conservatives had a gun at home, compared to just 23% of Liberals. Liberals were the most educated group with 49% being college graduates compared to an average of 26. 5% among all the conservative groups (including the Democratic voting Conservative Democrats). Disadvantaged Democrats were the least educated with only 13% having a college degree.
In terms of race, conservatives and liberals were fairly similar with more than 80% identifying as white and having been born in the United States. The term native born Americans refers to those persons who were born in the United States, as opposed to Foreign born Americans who were born outside the US However, Republican voting conservatives like Enterprisers, Social Conservatives, and Pro-Government Conservatives had a higher white percentage than liberals, especially Enterprisers and Social Conservatives who were both 91% white compared to 83% of Liberals. Liberals were also the most likely of every group to be born outside of the United States with 20% of liberal respondents saying that they or their parents were born outside of the United States, while only around 12% of all conservative types answered "yes" to the same question. [13]
| Demographic | Total | The right | The middle | The left | "Bystanders" | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprisers | Social Conservatives | Pro-Government Conservatives | Upbeats | Disaffecteds | Conservative Democrats | Disadvantaged Democrats | Liberals | ||||
| All respondents | 100% | 11% | 12% | 8% | 12% | 9% | 13% | 8% | 18% | 8% | |
| Educational attainment | |||||||||||
| High School dropout | 12% | 3% | 7% | 16% | 4% | 18% | 14% | 23% | 2% | 24% | |
| High School | 37% | 26% | 39% | 43% | 25% | 52% | 44% | 44% | 23% | 49% | |
| Some college | 24% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 33% | 18% | 26% | 20% | 26% | 14% | |
| College graduate | 27% | 46% | 28% | 15% | 37% | 11% | 16% | 13% | 49% | 13% | |
| Household income | |||||||||||
| $20,000 or less | 19% | 7% | 11% | 32% | 10% | 27% | 20% | 32% | 12% | 27% | |
| $20,000 to $30,000 | 16% | 6% | 15% | 17% | 8% | 17% | 22% | 20% | 12% | 26% | |
| $30,000 to $50,000 | 25% | 25% | 27% | 30% | 23% | 27% | 29% | 26% | 20% | 24% | |
| $50,000 to $75,000 | 16% | 21% | 17% | 11% | 20% | 16% | 14% | 14% | 15% | 15% | |
| $75,000 or higher | 24% | 41% | 30% | 10% | 39% | 13% | 15% | 8% | 41% | 8% | |
| Secular? | |||||||||||
| Secular | 8% | 6% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 9% | 1% | 5% | 22% | 12% | |
| Party lean | |||||||||||
| Democrat | 46% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 14% | 10% | 98% | 99% | 92% | 38% | |
| Republican | 45% | 98% | 97% | 86% | 73% | 60% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 39% | |
| Independent | 9% | 1% | 2% | 11% | 13% | 30% | 2% | 1% | 6% | 23% | |
SOURCE: Pew Research Center, 2005[13]
See also
References
- ^ Political Compass. (8 July, 2007). The Political Compass.. The educational attainment of the US population is similar to that of many other industrialized countries with the vast majority of the population having completed secondary education Household income is a measure of current private income commonly used by the United States government and private institutions The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The Pew Research Center is a Think tank based in Washington D The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. See also Electoral geography of the United States Red States and Blue States refer to those states of the United States of America Retrieved on 2007-07-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to
- ^ Neuhart, P. (22 January, 2004). Why politics is fun from catbirds' seats. USA Today.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ Thomas, E. & Darman, J. (2 July, 2007). Bloomberg's Knightly Ambitions. Newsweek.. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to
- ^ a b c d e Ipos Public affairs. (6 June, 2007). Associate Press Poll conducted by Ipos Public Affairs: Party Affiliation and Ideology.. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to
- ^ a b c d e f g h Pew Research Institute. (May 10, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue Republicans Divided About Role of Government - Democrats by Social and Personal Values.. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to
- ^ a b Starr, P. (2007). War and Liberalism. The New Republic, 236, 21-24.
- ^ Ridenour, A. (20 January, 2004). Political Philosophy: Are Americans More Liberal Than They Realize? National Center for Public Policy Research.. Retrieved on 2007-06-23. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1180 - First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan 1305 - The Flemish
- ^ a b c d e CNN. (2000). Exit Poll.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ a b c d e CNN. (2004). Exit Poll.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ a b c d e f CNN. (2006). Exit Poll.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ a b Judis, B. J. (11 July, 2003). The trouble with Howard Dean. Salon.com.. Retrieved on 2007-07-19. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic.
- ^ Boaz, D. & Kirby, D. (18 October, 2006). Policy Analysis: The Libertarian Vote. Cato Institute.. Retrieved on 2007-07-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily.
- ^ a b c d Pew Research Center, Spreadsheet, 2005 poll. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to
- ^ Martin Peretz. Martin H Peretz, also known as Marty Peretz, (born December 6, 1938) is an American publisher "A Message From TNRS Lieberman-Loving NeoCon Owner", 2006-06-23. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1180 - First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan 1305 - The Flemish Retrieved on 2006-10-29. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II
- ^ Chow, C. (October, 2002) New Study Reveals Extreme Partisan Bias Among Faculty. Accuracy in Academia.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ Kurtz, H. (29 March, 2005). College Faculties A Most Liberal Lot, Study Finds. The Washington Post.. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival
- ^ Klein, D. B. & Stern, C. (6 December, 2004) Economists' policy views and voting. Public Choice Journal.. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival
- ^ Stannard, M. B. (29 April, 2007). Montgomery McFate's Mission Can one anthropologist possibly steer the course in Iraq?. San Francisco Chronicle.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ a b O'Bannon, B. R. (27 August, 2003). In Defense of the 'Liberal' Professor. Indianapolis Star.. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival
- ^ Rosenberg, S. & Leyden, P. (November - December, 2007). The 50-Year Strategy: Beyond '08: Can progressives play for keeps? (p. 63 - 66) Mother Jones.
- ^ Pew Research Institute. (May 10, 2005). Demographics, Lifestyle and News Consumption - Lifestyle Notes: Showing the Flag.. Retrieved on 2007-07-13. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to
- ^ [http://www.spectacle.org/198/wilson.html Wilson, B. (January 1998). The Conservative Military. Spectacle. accessdate=2007-07-11].
- ^ Lobe, J. (1 January, 2004). Military More Republican, Conservative Than Public – Poll. LewRockwell.com.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ Brooks, Rosa (2007-01-05). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Weaning the Military from the GOP. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2007-07-12. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Another 2004 poll found that roughly 66% of military officers identified as Republicans compared to 32% among the general public. Lobe, J. (1 January, 2004). Military More Republican, Conservative Than Public – Poll. LewRockwell.com.. Retrieved on 2007-07-11. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
- ^ Pew Research Institute. (May 10, 2005). Demographics, Lifestyle and News Consumption - Matters of Faith.. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle.
- ^ Pew Research Institute. (May 10, 2005). Demographics, Lifestyle and News Consumption - Personal Optimism a Dividing Line.. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle.
- ^ Ehrenreich, Barbara (1989). Fear of Falling, The Inner Life of the Middle Class. New York, NY: Harper Collins. 0-06-0973331.
- ^ Gilbert, Dennis (1998). The American Class Structure. New York: Wadsworth Publishing. 0-534-50520-1.
- ^ Zweig, Michael (2004). What's Class Got To Do With It, American Society in the Twenty-First Century. New York, NY: Cornell University Press. 0-8014-8899-0.
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic