Infomaniac: WeBlog

What's your politics?

According to the Pew Research Center, Americans' politics aren't easily defined into Red vs. Blue, as the media would like us to think. It breaks voters down into several categories (in the middle: the 'disaffecteds', the 'upbeats', and the 'bystanders', for example); but finds that right now most Americans are leaning towards the Republican Party, although this is not reflected in actual affiliation.

Republicans have neither gained nor lost in party identification in 2005. Moreover, divisions within the Republican coalition over economic and domestic issues may loom larger in the future, given the increasing salience of these matters. The Democratic party faces its own formidable challenges, despite the fact that the public sides with them on many key values and policy questions. Their constituencies are more diverse and, while united in opposition to President Bush, the Democrats are fractured by differences over social and personal values.

Well, we knew that, but there are some interesting points in the report, like this:

Poorer Republicans and Democrats have strikingly different outlooks on their lives and possibilities. Pro-Government Conservatives are optimistic and positive; Disadvantaged Democrats are pessimistic and cynical.

And this:

George W. Bush has the broadest personal appeal of any national political figure among the main independent groups, the Upbeats and Disaffecteds.
...Bill and Hillary Clinton's favorable ratings have risen among the public, and both earn relatively high ratings from the GOP's Pro-Government Conservatives.

And here's a guide for new college graduates on How to get ahead in a politically fractured world, from a speech given to Yale graduates by John Kenneth Galbraith in 1979. Amazing how relevant some parts of it still remain. He told them, among other things: "You can join the great conservative revolt and serve the fortunate while pretending, even believing, that you are serving the public good. Or you can join Mr. Carter's liberals in Washington and serve the rich by doing nothing at all."

And, for those who are still not clear on exactly where they fall in the political spectrum, a test: How Republican are You?, rather tongue-in-cheek. (I won't say where I came out. Let's just say I was surprised.) (Via Discourse.Net.)

posted by liz at 12:33 PM