Posted on 07/03/2016 8:25:34 AM PDT by V K Lee
Republicans’ and Democrats’ views of each other are more vitriolic than they have been in nearly a quarter century, a new in-depth survey by the Pew Research Center released last week concluded.
“For the first time in surveys dating to 1992, majorities in both parties express not just unfavorable but very unfavorable views of the other party,” the researchers noted [emphasis added]. “And today, sizable shares of both Democrats and Republicans say the other party stirs feelings of not just frustration, but fear and anger.”
According to the survey of 4,385 randomly selected Americans, “more than half of Democrats (55%) say the Republican Party makes them ‘afraid,’ while 49% of Republicans say the same about the Democratic Party.” Further, “nearly half of Democrats (47%) and Republicans (46%) say the other party makes them feel angry,” and in both parties, 87% “have at least one of these negative feelings about the other party – frustration, fear or anger.”
Unsurprisingly, the more rigid one’s ideology and loyalty to party, the more powerful their disdain for those who subscribe to opposing beliefs. Additionally, the more “politically engaged” participants were, the more intense their negative feelings. For example, “58% of both Democrats and Republicans who are highly politically engaged are angered by the other party; fewer than half of those who are less engaged say the same.”
The blinders of partisanship also appear to heighten perceived differences between the left and right. “More politically engaged Republicans and Democrats also are more likely than the less engaged to see large differences between the policies of the two parties and to say the other party has almost no good ideas,” the researchers noted.
The increased animosity among the “politically engaged” aptly demonstrates the power of the “divide and conquer” tactics those in power employ to keep Americans at each other’s throats — as opposed to the throats of politicians and institutions.
While many Americans are aware of these deep, growing divisions in the United States, the Pew survey results highlight how quickly these shifts have occurred. In 1964, “the share of both parties with cold feelings toward the opposing party” was at 30%. By 1984, it had reached 45%. In 2004 it had spiked to 60%, and by 2012, “nearly 80% of Democrats and Republicans alike gave the other party a cold rating.”
The researchers also explain that while unfavorable views have risen, so have deeply unfavorable views: “in 2000 only about a quarter of both Democrats (23%) and Republicans (26%) had a very unfavorable view of the other party; by 2012 that had risen to more than four-in-ten.”
The Pew findings reinforce the results of a political paper, “All Politics is National: The Rise of Negative Partisanship and the Nationalization of U.S. House and Senate Elections in the 21st Century,” published last year by two researchers at Emory University. Alan Abramowitz and Steven Webster found that “regardless of the strength of their attachment to their own party, the more voters dislike the opposing party, the greater the probability that they will vote consistently for their own party’s candidates.”
In other words, a voter’s dislike of others is a greater driving force in politics than their affinity for their own party. As the Pew survey found, “those who associate three or more negative traits with people in the opposing party (as 37% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans do) participate in politics at the highest rates.”
Even as fear and anger continue to mount, however, voters expressing these emotions are less than satisfied with their own parties. Though “substantial majorities of both Democrats (73%) and Republicans (64%) say their parties make them feel hopeful,” few go so far as to feel proud or enthusiastic.
“Only about a quarter of Democrats (26%) and a similar share of Republicans (23%) say their party makes them feel enthusiastic. Roughly a quarter of Democrats (26%) also say their party makes them feel proud, while fewer Republicans (16%) say the same about their party.”
While the Pew findings indicate two-party bias is still very much the fabric of American politics, the lack of enthusiasm so many Americans harbor for the ruling parties is a sign of evolving views. In 2016, disdain for both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump has pushed many voters to consider other options, including Jill Stein of the Green Party and Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party.
Until this long-term shift overtakes a majority of the population, however, negativity, fear, and self-righteousness continue to dominate the American political consciousness. According to the survey, “most partisans say that, when it comes to how Democrats and Republicans should address the most important issues facing the county, their party should get more out of the deal.” [emphasis added]
For all the perceived differences between the left and right, the Pew findings reveal just how much they have in common — most notably, their sense of entitlement to power and control of policy, and of course, their deep and growing animosity toward each other.
Hillary or Trump.
No more proof needed (although I like Trump he is NOT even close to the best we can offer).
The “two party” system failed when it became the “one party” system...The UNIPARTY....
“Republicans’ and Democrats’ views of each other are more vitriolic than they have been in nearly a quarter century, a new in-depth survey by the Pew Research Center released last week concluded.”
Well, that’s bullshit.
Republicans’ and Democrats’ views of each other are more vitriolic than they have been in the past 6.5 decades, at least. Looking at what history is available, there seems to be more hostility than at any time since Reconstruction.
You win a cookie.
+1
What flavor????
The answer was in the Communist Goals published in the Congressional Record in 1963.
Capture one or both political parties.
Neither party represents the citizens.
We had a good run, but it's winding down.
The democrat party is a criminal enterprise and the Rino’s are complicit.
What they fear most is an honest,uncoruptable President who will upset their grave train.
The Uniparty system is Faiwing.
Hannaford brand Samoas
Just look at parliamentary countries and see the chaos where there’s four, five, six or more different parties having to form a coalition just to govern.
“Republicans’ and Democrats’ POLITICAL THEATER of each other are more vitriolic than they have been in nearly a quarter century, a new in-depth survey by the Pew Research Center released last week concluded.”
The argument between the parties doesn’t lie in great differences. It lies in who gets the leadership and most time at the public trough.
Well, thank you....:o))
A pox on both parties indeed. Still, I’ll hold my nose and vote GOP this fall. The alternative is too frightening.
My breakfast of champions LOL
Who is the best in your opinion?
Your going to hold your nose?! Why? Don’t you agree with the following?
“It’s as simple as the nose on your face. Trump builds things. Big things. Creates jobs. Lots of jobs. Writes payroll checks. Buys things from vendors. Lots of things. Creates commerce and promotes the economy. And is successful about it. He proves daily by his own actions that capitalism works! Something working people can relate to and are starving for. Success breeds success.
Also is big on cutting taxes, cutting regulations, cutting the EPA, cutting government waste, corruption and fraud. Making education local. Making trade deals that actually benefit American workers for a change. Wants to strengthen social security and medicare which working people have paid into all their lives. Wants to straighten out the health care disaster that politicians have screwed up.
Is big on securing the borders against illegal aliens and Muslims and rebuilding our military. And bombing the crap out of ISIS. And is not P/C about any of it. Talks their language because he’s worked among working people all his life. It is his native tongue. He’s not a glib, smooth talking lawyer or phony politician. Working people love America, love success, love security and love Trump’s positive message about making America great again! Bold strokes! Bold leadership! Man of action!
And it’s NOT Uni-Party all talk, no action, business as usual. It’s a rebellion of, for and by the people. It’s about the people, stupid.
Screw the politicians. They’ve FUBAR’d our country long enough.
Am I coming around to like Trump? You can bet your sweet bippy I am. And if he gets it, I’m all in for Trump!
17 posted on 3/1/2016, 10:24:44 PM by Jim Robinson”
What “two” parties?
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