A Gallup poll that was released 2 weeks ago, for some reason was all over the Tuesday morning 24 hour cable news channel talk shows. The poll revealed that 40% of Americans identify themselves as conservative, 36% moderate, and 20% liberal. But why this is news is a mystery. These numbers haven’t changed significantly in decades.
Of course Republican pundits were touting the poll as proof the American people actually agree with them. But when you break down the poll, you learn that the American people are more grounded about what it really means to be a conservative, moderate, or liberal than politicians are. For instance, did you know that 22% of Democrats and 35% of Independents identify themselves as conservative. In other words, for a lot of Americans being conservative does not mean you have to agree with Republicans. Considering the record of stewardship of the Republicans between 2001 and 2007, it should be of no surprise. For virtually nothing they did in that time period could be considered conservative.
Politicians have been busy muddling the meaning of these words since our Founding Fathers inked the Declaration of Independence. I’ve often pondered the contradiction of labeling an environmental conservationist a “liberal.” And the contemporary term “neo-conservative” is a virtual admission that politicians have no qualms about altering or completely changing the meaning of words. Neo-conservative meaning “new” conservative… what? It should mean “not” conservative.
Unfortunately, as is with any attempt to simplify something as complicated as a persons political ideology to just 3 categories, one misses the nuances and gray areas of the subject. A person may identify themselves as a conservative in general. Yet they will harbor moderate and even liberal views on many issues. You don’t see them among the ranks of politicians very often. But among political activists and everyday people they’re everywhere. The Log Cabin Republicans come to mind instantly. They are a group of gay Republicans. And in my travels I’ve met hundreds of Pro-choice Republicans and Pro-life Democrats.
So when it comes down to what it means to be a conservative, a moderate, or a liberal there seems to be 2 universes. There’s the universes of the politicians where conservative means Republican, liberal means Democrat and moderate means Independent, which means “up for grabs.” Then there’s the universe where the people live. Where these ideas are applied in a reasonable and appropriate manner. On issues like the environment, energy, and international affairs we need to be conservative. But not this “new” conservatism. More like the Eisenhower style conservatism. On issues like human rights, education, and health care we should be liberal. And on issues like the economy we need to be moderate.
However I don’t hold out much hope this poll will be treated in a even handed way in the media. It’s so much more fun to make the guys who are in power look like they’re in trouble. It’s like these ridiculous off year elections where Republicans who were already favored to win… won. Except for the Democrat who won a seat that hadn’t been held by a Dem in a scrillion years in northern New York State. The GOP is acting as if this miniscule victory is signaling a complete reversal of the sweeping Democratic victories of November 2008. I’ve been commenting on politics for some time now, but the Republicans ability to spin a mountain out of a mole hill continues to amaze me.
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You can listen to Devin talk politics at earlymorningpundits.com with Dr. Candace House and Devin Barber every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00 AM Eastern and 5:00 AM Pacific. You can also listen to recorded shows anytime.
Devin Barber, Politics Correspondent
Devin’s column, “Left Of The Right” published weekly or more to Gather Essentials: Politics is a Blue Collar Democrats take on current political news.
Devin was raised by proud Roosevelt Democrats. Being the son of parents counted among the throng of Americans displaced by the Great Depression has given Devin a deep rooted passion for causes dealing with the poor and the working class.
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Comments: 57
Sadly, your excellent piece will be labeled "liberal" and ignored by Republicans. (Sorry, just had to do some labeling of my own. :-)
A nice label, just not as nice as no label at all.
At least I think that's mud.
I'd classify myself as other. I've always thought of liberals as being slightly left of center and almost eager to compromise with those on the right. I'm willing to compromise on some stuff but I'm not very close to the center. :)
This is being featured on "News, Politics and the Economy."
The poll results were 40 Percent say they are Conservative, 36 Moderate and 20 liberal. How does it happen that with that breakdown there is NO moderate party?
Media Matters has a slightly different take than I do. Read it here.
I'm all for compromise and working with others to share in the bounty that is aviable to us all. But without shared responsibilties selfessness is bound to clog the free flow of words. Where here in todays mass media world, words have become to mean money or the control wealth to supress truth or to confuse the public with fear and loathing.
If I tell Gallup that I'm a "liberal", does that also tell them that I think PC is BS? Does it tell them I'm a fiscal conservative? Does it necessarily tell them I think climate change is real and that we need to conserve nature?
The media love polls like this one because it gives them something to talk about and at least the illusion of credibility in their source. The rest of us still have to take poll results with a grain of salt the size of Gibralter.
Polls of any sort are only useful to someone when it supports their position, otherwise they are all wrong.
Still, this same type poll only a few months ago had many touting Dems as a majority. As you point out, maybe if people are only given a couple of choices, their selection of one may be simply because its closer to their view at best.
Anyone want to play:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977869542
In any event, your analysis is apt.
To make a long story short, despite the fact that they take an oath to uphold it, our esteemed legislators essentially never talk about what the Constitution allows or prohibits. If they stated a Constitutional basis and authority for, say heath care, their reasoning could most certainly be used to establish a national car program, a national housing program, and whatever else program. This would in effect mean that the Constitution would be stripped of any ability to limit government (one of it's stated goals). This conclusion on it's face invalidates the initial reasoning used for health care.
The bottom line is those in Congress (both parties) do whatever they think they can get away with and are not functioning (and we citizens are not making them function) as part of a CONSTITUTIONAL republic. A law is not Constitutional just because they pass it and having the discussion on every matter before them would go along way toward revealing their abuse of that document.
The constitution gave congress a free hand on passing laws that would be of a benefit for the citizens of this country as long as specific rights as spelled out in the constitution where not violated. The constitution does not specify or endorse any religion or economic system.
From the preamble - "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" I believe a national healthcare plan would be covered under promoting the general welfare of the citizenery.
The interpretation that their oath (to uphold the Constitution) means that Congress can do whatever they decide might be for the good and then possibly await a smackdown from the Supreme Court due to the measure's un-Constitutionality is indefensible and wrong. The judicial branch was designed to be the weakest and the requirement to act Constitutionally falls on all three branches equally. Giving that power solely to the Judiciary is nowhere found in the Founding discussions.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/57007
Tort reform is just as likely to be overturned, if passed.
As for me, I could be considered to be liberal concerning some subjects and conservative concerning others. I've been accused of paying too much attention to the liberal media as well as spending too much time watching Fox.
It is against the following liberal ideology and policy.
Forced school busing- a liberal disaster.
Proliferation of the Welfare state-created a helpless and expanding dependency class- dependent on Democrats"vote" us in we will take care of you.
Minimum wage legislation- resulting in untold numbers of lower income workers losing their jobs, all in the name of democrats improving their lot as a class-insidious-
Great Society program- the liberal progressive Utopian plan to end poverty has resulted in destroying generations of inner-city families, torn the dad's out of the homes, and the prisons are filled with these victims of good old democrat social plans- insidious.
If Democrats-liberals-progressives-socialist are successful, the result will be more poor,disaffected, alienated people who are more dependent on government for their every need- the democrat party dream-.
Liberals have succeeded in convincing to many people that America "guarantees" economic prosperity to all its citizens. The Founders promise of equality of opportunity is being supplanted by the governments promise of economic "Entitlement".
What makes liberals so intolerant of opposition? Why are liberals so reluctant to engage in open dialogue and debate? Why do they so often resort to ad homonym attacks and name-calling?Because they are unable to win the arguments on the merits. Demonizing and discrediting the reputations and backgrounds of their opponent is about the only ammunition remaining in their arsenal.
For writing this I will be called a Racist-Bigot- and all around Right Wing hater.
Conservatives are coming- bury your liberal heads in the sand, if you wish.
Its not the Conservatives that are coming its the Independent voter, the ones who gave Reagan a 48 state humiliation to the Democrats.
I will come there. I totally agree with you, so I better put my armor on here.
The Republican platform may have stayed about the same since the beginning, but Republicans themselves have changed over the years. This country was founded with the specific purpose of having religious freedom, and keeping a real divide between church and state. They were fed up with the religious wars of Europe. Current Republicans are trying to close that gap and force Christian rule on America. That is just like the Muslims who seek to increase the power of their already powerful religious leaders. The new Republicans are driving conventional Republicans from the party. Now that the Tea Partiers have actually formed the Tea Party, the 'Grand Old Party' is further splintered. It's time for a new moderate party to emerge to give a home to people who want reasonable government.
Char, thanks for your words- thinking about it, but the democrat vile haters on Gather are to immature to handle one.
To all you democrats who think that all Americans are not fed-up with the massive taxation- trillion dollar this and that Obama programs, at their expense- their paycheck- good. Please keep it up-.
And would you please drop the "all Americans are on my side" sillyness. The reality is that most Americans are barely aware of what's truely going on. And few have any serious understanding of the issues. We who live and breathe politics tend to forget the average person on the street couldn't tell you the name of the Vice President of the United States.
Devin, you live an breathe politics with liberals y'all- you all think alike-sound alike and y'all agree that you are the smartest people around.
Devin, you still embarrass yourself by telling the people that Obama has not raised taxes on middle-class, I would say shame on you , but liberals have no shame I think there is a anti-shame, serum in the Obama kook aid you "cats" swallow.
UNEMPOLOYMENT - nearing 12%- 4 million jobs lost in a lousy 10 months- .
Devin, thinks the American people are not fed-up!! WOW. ONLY A DIE-HARD OUT OF TOUCH LIBERAL- could hold that delusion-Devin, get out of your liberal cave meet some of the average working men and woman{ Independents}- like I do, and ask them what they think about Obamanomics and Obama-leadership.
Devin, just hanging with other democrat worshipers of Obama and socialism will keep you ignorant of what Americans think.
BTW, Billy-bj Monica, called the tea party patriots Teabaggers, well, BJ Billy, we say being called a Teabagger, by a total Scum-Baggier like you a sexual predator is a badge of honor for us. You p-o-crap.
it's not that the decocrams are preferabble, it is that the republicrats are dangerous idiots.