[lbo-talk] conservatives outnumber liberals by more than 2-1

[Wojtek S]

[WS:] Sounds scary but I would not read much into it and repeat my view that
most people do not have an opinion  consistent with an a priori held
principle.  Instead their views are formed by two kinds of social cues -
opinions held by their reference group (e.g. where people they idefy with
stand on an issue) and how effectively the issue and its advocates or
alleged advocates are demonized in the media.

People may ex post facto rationalize their position on an issue in terms of
political principles (e.g. this is ""conservative" "liberal" or what not)
but their standing on that issue comes not form an examination of its
consistency with an a priori held principle, but rather from group think
(following cues coming from their reference group) and fearmongering by
media pundits.

Wojtek

On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 3:11 PM, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:


> <
> http://www.gallup.com/poll/123854/Conservatives-Maintain-Edge-Top-Ideological-Group.aspx
> >
>
> October 26, 2009
> Conservatives Maintain Edge as Top Ideological Group
> Compared with 2008, more Americans “conservative” in general, and on issues
> by Lydia Saad
>
> PRINCETON, NJ -- Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals
> in the American populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first
> noted in June. Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as
> conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from
> 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most
> prevalent group.
>
> ...
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