>Differences in Agendas between Most and Least Politically Engaged.
>
>As in other surveys that have focused on citizen engagement, we have
>documented substantial difference between citizens in the degree to
>which they are actively involved in politics or other aspects of
>their communities. Citizens who are much less active in politics are
>similar to those who are more active in their views or positions
>concerning many problem- or policy-related controversies, but
>important differences can be seen for some specific controversies.
>In particular, individuals who do not participate in politics (or
>who have lower levels of participation) are:
>
>* More conservative on issues involving "family values";
>* More liberal on issues concerning race;
>* More liberal on issues concerning federal domestic spending and
>overall federal activism; and
>* More liberal on campaign finance reform.
>
>If some of those who are now inactive politically were to become
>more engaged, it is possible that their agendas would change to more
>closely resemble the agendas of those who are now politically
>active. However, those who are interested in increasing the
>political participation of Americans should be prepared for the
>possibility that the success of such a mission could mean that
>American politicians would be pressured to move somewhat more to the
>left with respect to government aid to the less economically
>advantaged, but at the same time somewhat more to the right with
>respect to the government's treatment of abortion, homosexuality,
>and the relationship between religion and state.