Poll: Surging partisanship among American voters
CBS/AP
The poll shows Republicans and Democrats are increasingly far apart on questions surrounding values and beliefs. In 1987, when Pew began gathering data on how members of both parties feel about a set of 48 value-oriented questions, the average disparity between Republicans and Democrats was 10 points. In 2012, the average was an 18-point difference.
Much of the increase has been relatively recent: Between 1987 and 2002, the differentials fell within a 3-point range, alternating between 9, 10, and 11 points. In 2003, however, the average difference in partisan voter values jumped from 11 to 14 percent, where it remained constant until 2007. In 2009, the number jumped to 16 percent, and in 2012 it reached 18 percent.
While partisan polarization has surged in recent years, the differentials have remained relatively stable among other demographic groups, including race, income, education, religiosity, and gender.
"We've been asking the same questions in the same way for 25 years," said Carroll Doherty, one of the associate directors of the poll, in an interview with Hotsheet. "The partisan divide is now by far the largest single gap among the public and the parties are more polarized than they ever have been in that 25 year period."
According to the survey, conducted from April 4-15 among 3,008 adults nationwide, both Democrats and Republicans have become more ideologically homogeneous in recent years. A majority of Republicans call themselves conservatives, while an increasing number of Democrats identify as liberal. Conservative Republicans outweigh moderates by two to one, and there are about as many self-proclaimed liberal Democrats as moderate Democrats.
The most pronounced divides are between committed supporters of President Obama and Mitt Romney on questions about the scope and performance of the government, as well as issues related to the economy, environment and immigration. Between 1987 and 2012, the partisan division on the role and scope of the government jumped from 6 to 33. Between 1992, when the question was first asked, and 2012, the differential between Republicans and Democrats on questions surrounding the environment catapulted from 5 to 39. On immigration, the difference has jumped from 4 in 2002, when Pew started asking the question, to 24 in 2012.
"The supporters or Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are very far apart on nearly all issues, but what's a little less clear is where roughly a quarter of the voters come down." Those so-called swing voters, Doherty says, are "cross-pressured" -- meaning that "on some issues they side with Romney voters and on some issues they side with Obama voters."
The poll also notes a growing number of Americans who choose to identify as independents rather than Democrats or Republicans.
Thirty-eight percent of the survey's respondents said they identify as independents, while just 32 percent of called themselves Democrats, and 24 percent identified as Republicans.
"The number of independents continues to rise," said Doherty. "It's at the highest percentage in more than 70 years, and the percent affiliating with a party is at its lowest percentage."
Doherty cited a growing dissatisfaction with both parties -- as well as Washington -- as part of the reason for that change.
"Roughly 10 years ago you had roughly equal numbers of Republicans, Democrats and independents," Doherty said. "But as we've seen the parties pull apart, the number of independents has grown."
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As long as we buy into the Top 1% setting us against each other, they will continue to be able to rape and pillage America with impunity. I still can't believe what the Wall Street Banksters did and got away with. We are toast, we are screwed unless we unite.
1. If Obamacare is unconstitutional, so is Medicare and Social Security. If Obamacare is immoral, so is Social Security and Medicare. Interstate commerce still requires federal authority.
2. Please name a few of these regulations, since you make it seem there are many, many of them. I seriously doubt that "all business owners [are forced] to reassess what we are doing..."
3. Please descrive the increased government handouts. You mean cutting taxes even further and creating more loopholes for Corporations? Those handouts?
I was in a Sunday School class and several class members started talking about how right it was for President Bush to invade Iraq. I didn't return. In another Sunday School class, a member stated that she didn't read the local newspaper because it was too liberal. She objected to an article on mountain top removal for coal. She subscribed to the Wall Street Journal instead.
People gravitate to where they are comfortable.
Zann, you continue to throw around racism, when it isnt even on the radar of factors involved.
You are better than this!
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Mortar I witness this on a daily basis! Don't assume the rest of the world's reality is anyting like the rosy picture you painted before you stuck your head in the sand!
by ugacrew June 5, 2012 10:48 AM EDT
That is it in a nutshell. The current President attempted to rein in the long-time abuses of Wallstreet, Banks and Big Businesses; take uncapped and variable high interest rates student loans out of the hands of wealthy private lenders to make them more affordable and more available to lower income individuals thus making making educational opportunities more available; made critical and streamlined changes to the home lending process so as increase homeownership among citizens; targeted funds for long-neglected and crumbling infrastructure improvements to aid our american cities in looking more like the wealthy country they represent, and this lists goes on.
This President's attempt to level the playing field in this country, coupled with the fact that he is a Black man, has been more than most of the privileged can handle. One can liken the divide to the Civil War. They used the federal deficit as their guise when in fact, if they had been this concerned about this deficit it never would have risen to this level in the first place.
When they cry "we want to take our country back," they would be more honest if they were to say, "we don't want to level the playing field, we like being the most privileged and at all costs."
Unless we have a president and a fillibuster proof congress both of the same party, nothing will get done. Even then, very little will be accomplished. Our leaders are not listening; or, if they are, they are listening to the wrong people. And then we have 2016 and beyond to consider.
The divide is largely along ideological lines. The ideology can be religious based, based on class distinction, based on racial or cultural lines; it really doesn't matter. What matters is the narrative and for way too many, the narrative is ALL that counts. If objective truth and reality don't fit the narrative it is the truth and reality that must be changed, but never the narrative. I see this world-view digging in process everywhere I look and it is disturbing. Particularly in view of the historical fact that of all conflicts that degenerate to violence and warfare, it it the ideologically based ones that are the most deadly.
I predict a very bleak future for this country.
Me too.
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Racsim was harnessed by the rich and used against the country.