Comments | pandora_sage: 'America Is Evenly Divided Between Progressives/Liberals And Conservatives/Libertarians'

pandora_sage

'America Is Evenly Divided Between Progressives/Liberals And Conservatives/Libertarians'

Mar 12, 2009 19:55

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/11/halpin-teixeria-progressive-study/Basically, what the studies cited in this article show is that, despite how many Americans define themselves, they are more progressive than they realize. In other words, most people apply labels to their political views, but it seems that a lot of people don't know what those ( Read more... )

Comments 3

prfkttear March 13 2009, 01:41:50 UTC

We live in a society where everything has to have a neat label and "clearly defined". Yet when people choose what to consider themselves, they do so based on the generalizations, perception or concieved notion of what those labels are. Such as all liberals are tree hugging, baby killing hippies or all Conservatives are bible thumping, forrest killing warmongers ( ... )

pandora_sage March 13 2009, 03:27:30 UTC

I agree that our culture relies too much on labels, but they are a convenient way to let others know your general belief system. The article makes evident that many Americans need a better political and economic education, so that they are able to use terms more effectively. Lately, I've been making something of an effort to be more informed. With the mass of information out there, it can get overwhelming at times.

prfkttear March 13 2009, 03:48:27 UTC

Yes, its true, it convenient, but some people hold on to that narrow mindset and don't see the big picture.

I agree, Americans do. Hell, there are some who could not name such common knowledge as the three branches of government, or the speaker of the house.

As citizens its responsibility to keep ourself informed, however many people are just too lazy/apathetic, or frankly just don't care. They'd rather hear about the latest sports news instead of whats going on in the nation or around the world.

There is a LOT of information, and with so much of it being biased and leaning to one side or another its hard to decipher whats fact and whats spin. I tend to just take everything in and make up my own mind, but some people want their minds made up for them. Still, its our duty to know whats going on and make sure our public servants uphold their end of the bargain. We elected 'em, now they gotta do their job and work for US. Being in formed is patriotic, how many flag totin' "support our troops magnet" people actually know whats going on