Gallup: U.S. Political Ideology Stable With Conservatives Leading

[SpartanDem]

If this pattern continues, 2011 will be the third straight year that conservatives significantly outnumber moderates -- the next largest ideological bloc. Liberalism has been holding steady for the past six years, averaging either 21% or 22%, although notably higher than the 17% average seen in Gallup polling during the early to middle '90s.

Longer term, the Gallup ideology trend, dating from 1992, documents increased political polarization in the country. The percentage of moderates has fallen to the mid-30s from the low 40s, while the combined percentage either liberal or conservative is now 62%, up from 53%.

Hard Right Republicans Outnumber Hard Left Democrats

A much higher proportion of Republicans call themselves "very conservative" or "conservative" (71%) than Democrats call themselves "very liberal" or "liberal" (38%). Democrats are as likely to call themselves moderates as liberals.

Additionally conservative Republicans are a bit more likely to call themselves very conservative than liberal Democrats are to identify as very liberal. As a result, hard right Republicans outnumber hard left Democrats by more than 2 to 1, 21% vs. 9%.


http://www.gallup.com/poll/148745/Political-Ideology-Stable-Conservatives-Leading.aspx


It's interesting reading this poll and then seeing polls about peoples policy preferences which clearly favor liberals. I can't help thinking of this joke, Why do you have to take two Baptists with you when you go fishing? A: Because if you take just one, he'll drink all your beer. America is like that about government we love drinking the government beer as long as no one sees us do it.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. When they do these polls it'd be nice if they asked "what do you thnk liberal & conservative mean?"

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. EXACTLY!!! +1,000,000!!!! n/t

[RainDog]

14. exactly. these same people overwhelming think social democracy is the best distribution of wealth

when they don't see labels like "liberal" or "conservative" attached to those economic policies.

iow, this poll means nothing - ask real questions.

this poll seems to be trotted out to make it okay to continue failed economic policies of the right.

you can make people agree that they want to boink their grandmothers if you use the right words.

"do you think it's morally imperative to love your grandmother?"

[ej510]

2. Conservative and moderate means you support facism.

[socialist_n_TN]

10. Nah, at least as far as the self identifying moderates go

they hold liberal views. Now the self described conservatives hold fascist views.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Because conservatives have such a great track record

Really, America, you're full of it.

[FLAprogressive]

4. The meanings of "conservative", "liberal", and "moderate" have been obfuscated so much that it does

not matter what people say.

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Yep that's it in a nutshell...........

These "self identifying" polls are useless because, as you said, the meanings of the terms have been so obfuscated (NICE word :))AND demonized that nobody knows what the terms really mean. I'd imagine that at LEAST half and probably 2/3 to 3/4 of the self described "moderates" actually have "liberal" views on issues, At least that's what the Pew polls on ISSUES say.

[Kolesar]

9. "Democrat" and "Republican" would be better descriptions

"Liberal" actually means somebody who supports extending democracy, among other things.

[provis99]

13. it's easy to crosstabulate ideology with political stances.

I'll bet it could be done with this poll, if I had the data myself.

[ixion]

5. There is nothing 'stable' about the cognitive dissonance that is US Political Ideology

nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

[guruoo]

6. 1. Vanity. Conservative=virtuous, Liberal=evil. 2. Denial. Love to play with fire as long

as it's the other guy getting burned.

[spanone]

11. so then how did this guy, Barack Obama, get elected?

[SpartanDem]

12. Moderates/liberal hold 57-41 advantage over converatives

[bluestate10]

16. Exactly. Moderates can't and won't vote for republicans unless they are

tricked by 2010 statements about jobs being the single focus. 2012 will be a watershed election for democrats if the liberals are disciplined enough not to blow things up with unrealistic demands and behavior.

[blogslut]

15. Hang on

Doesn't the chart in the second graphic negate the chart in the first graphic?