This is a really important point that Nathan makes, since some research argues that the social base of the Christian Right activists is among upwardly-mobile suburban evangelicals and fundamentalists. Above average in wealth and education. So it may be that the new economic and social status helps drive the political activism, and may even be the more important factor. Mixed opinions on that. I would like to solicite cites from those who have seen good research. The research I did for Right-wing Populism in America is now two to eight years old and predates the 2000 campaign figures.
-Chip
----- Original Message ----- From: "Nathan Newman" <nathan at newman.org> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 6:14 PM Subject: Re: another factoid
> The other reality is that fundamentalism has been
recruiting upmarket
> economically in recent years- richer Protestants used to
be in the mainline
> denominations but are increasingly in denominations
designated
> fundamentalist or evangelical.
>
> So at least part of the shift in religious voting is due
to that economic
> shift, although there are unquestionably cultural parts of
the political
> shift as well based on the rise of abortion, gay rights
and other issues
> within the Democratic coalition.
>
> Nathan Newman