I don’t understand why the righties are so angry - they’re living in a hyperconservative paradise, where the poor are fucked even more, we start wars without provocation, personal rights are under attack in the name of national security, crass corporatism reigns supreme in all facets of american life, we brutally buttfuck the environment in the name of business, and the rules don’t apply to the administration. What would it take for them to be happy?
It’s the true liberals - not affluent and smug “Democrats,” but the true liberals - who are violently, virulently angry.
As you said, we’ve got this hyperconservative “paradise” going on, but things are still totally fucked up (or even more fucked up than before, actually). The conservatives realize this, but since they aren’t willing or able to realize it’s their own policies that are screwing things up, then obviously it must be the fault of some secret evul libural scheme. Hence the anger.
I think a few might be slightly content if everybody who’s politically to the left of them all drank drink bleach and died.
Anyway, as I mentioned this previously in the Pit thread about the right’s persecution complex, anger is good for ratings and fundraising. Thus, the right-wing radio ranters always have to be pissed about something. Otherwise, people will stop tuning in and contributions to conservative activist groups and the Republican Party go down.
I think a few might be slightly content if everybody who’s politically to the left of them all drank bleach and died.
Anyway, as I mentioned this previously in the Pit thread about the right’s persecution complex, anger is good for ratings and fundraising. Thus, the right-wing radio ranters always have to be pissed about something. Otherwise, people will stop tuning in and contributions to conservative activist groups and the Republican Party go down.
I got similar numbers when I calculated Liberals 21%, Conservatives 45% and Moderates 34%. But when I made Conservatives 34% and Moderates 45%, as given in the article, the numbers are slightly different:
Support increased spending on Social Security: 60% of all voters
Support increased funding for education: 77.7% of all voters
Support increased funding for child care: 58% of all voters
“Debating 101.” Good one. No, actually, I have ADD, and your post made me forget the topic for a hot minute and think I was back in the “How liberal is the mainstream media?” thread.
You’re exactly right kaylasdad, I did all the calculations without noticing that I had reversed the percentages of moderates and conservatives! As you say, the fact that there are actually more moderates than conservatives makes the liberal slant of voters in general even more pronounced.
Thanks for the correction, and thank Og for the Straight Dope where people actually bother to check things like this!
Of course people are going to say “yes” to pollsters asking about spending on various subjects. Although, I notice you only claim 50% support welfare increases, which is what led to my “grasp on reality” comment. You’d see the numbers drop like a rock if the pollsters mentioned tax hikes along with the questions, BTW.
In any case, I can offer some counter evidence. More meaningful than polls is the actual behavior of the poeple. Here in MA, there are two tax rates: The normal rate of 5.3% and the voluntary rate of 5.85%. When you file, there is a choice of which rate you would like to pay.
Why, in this most liberal minded of states, do only a tiny minority of people opt to pay the higher tax rates?
Further, MA voters have voted to lower the tax rate from 5.3% to 5.0% five years ago, yet the legislature refuses to do so. During the last election, a ballot question was put up by the libertarians calling for complete removal of the income tax. It was opposed by both parties, every newspaper, and had very little press coverage. It came within 5% of passing.
It’s funny because there are issues where liberal positions are more popular than conservative ones: abortion, the perception of the parties regarding the environment, etc. You’re just focusing on an area where the public opinion just isn’t there. If you asked a poll question like “Would you be willing to accept higher taxes to pay for more government welfare to the poor?” it is going to fail every time.
Both parties have issues where they are in the majority. Conservatives are clearly in the majority on lowering taxes, gun rights, and other issues.
People are smart enough to know the difference between a liberal and a conservative. They just aren’t liberal in as large of numbers as you might like.
C’mon, Kimstu. That quote was from him backpeddling once I called him out on his over the top rhetoric. Go back and read his posts. There’s nothing there worth responding to. It’s just bile and hate.
Well well well. Now who’s implying that people are “dumb” and don’t know what they actually believe?
And by the way, I never said that people in general don’t like lower taxes. I simply pointed out that lowering taxes isn’t always their highest priority when it comes to policy positions. Which is illustrated by the fact that less than 43% of all voters support the Bush tax cuts, and that 65% would support universal health insurance even if it meant raising taxes.
Sorry, but the numbers I provided show that the public opinion is there. On all those positions, although more voters identify themselves as “conservative” than “liberal”, more voters support the liberal positions than the conservative ones.
They definitely are liberal in larger numbers than you claim, and in larger numbers than their use of the label “liberal” would suggest. Which was my point.
I’m not backpedalling on anything. Conservatives are a loudmouthed minority.
Because they’re a minority they try to advance their positions using stealth tactics. Conservative judges up for confirmation try to avoid talking about their records. The President talks publicly about support liberal positions, then quietly refuses to follow through with the funding. Conservative legislation is given misleading names.
If the conservatives were in sync with the rest of the country they wouldn’t have to resort to these subterfuges.
