Posted on 10/30/2007 12:28:46 PM PDT by RogerFGay
Zogby Poll: U.S. Constitution Wearing Well in Modern America
But Zogby newsletter poll shows wide majority feels the two–party political system is not working well; Most want more options
As the nation marks its 231st birthday Wednesday, most Americans believe the U.S. Constitution is still serving the nation well, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.
Nine out of 10 respondents to a recent online survey said that, despite the massive changes that have occurred in the U.S. since the ratification of the Constitution in 1788, the guiding document of the nation is still relevant to modern life in America.
The survey included 5,651 respondents and was conducted June 19–21, 2007. It carries a margin of error of +/– 1.3 percentage points. Results from the wide–ranging poll can be found in the July edition of Zogby’s Real America Newsletter, available at www.zogby.com. The current edition of the newsletter explores a wide variety of topics having to do with the nation’s birthday and with the hot topic of immigration.
Half said the Constitution was “completely relevant” to modern life. By contrast, just 1% said it was not at all relevant, while 7% said it was not very relevant. Those at the liberal end of the political spectrum were more likely to be dissatisfied with the founding document’s guiding of life today in America, but moderates were most disenchanted. Among the very liberal, 46% said the Constitution was “very relevant,” compared to 79% of the very conservative who said the same. Among moderates, just 37% agreed.
Younger respondents were less convinced of its relevance in modern society. Racial minorities were somewhat less likely to say it was relevant, compared to whites.
The newsletter survey also shows that, by a wide majority, most Americans are displeased with the current two–party political system. Two out of three adults – 67% – said they were dissatisfied with the Democrat–versus–Republican dominated system, while just 31% said they were happy with it.
Oddly, just 32% of Democrats and 40% of Republicans said they were pleased, while majorities were dissatisfied. Among those who described themselves as political independents, just 19% were satisfied, while 80% said they were unhappy. The poll revealed serious intensity of emotion against the current system among independents – 49% said they were “very dissatisfied” with the current political arrangement in America.
Asked if they thought a system that included more political parties would make the country’s politics better, 53% agreed. Liberals were more interested in new options, the poll shows – 64% of liberals said more parties would improve the system, compared to just 38% of conservatives who said the same thing. Among Democrats, 58% said they believed more parties would improve the system, compared to just 38% of Republicans who agreed. Among independents, 64% agreed more political parties would help.
ping
Unfortunately, those two-thirds won’t make up a single, unified third party.
They will be the margins of either party that will only serve to split the vote of the others.
We’ve been here before.
Better to affect change from within.
Make every primary on the same day and make them all open primaries. There is no need for voters to declare themselves. If someone gets 50% of the vote they win. If nobody gets 50% of the vote the two highest vote getters have a run off.
The only thing achieved by a multi-party political system is to give more power to the extremists. That kind of system has decimated Europe and would do the same to the United States if the 2-party system were to ever truly fall apart and be replaced by the concept suggested in this article.
If this is true; just wonder how the questions were worded?
Oh...I bet the Clintons are behind this one.
But really, if you want multiple parties move to Germany, France or Italy.
Beat me to it. One only need look at Italy for an example. The French are not far behind.
I don’t want either type of government here.
As what?
They’re voting for the US Constution and against the two party opposition to it.
The question is: Why do you believe a poll from an Islamist son-of-a-bitch?
You’re posting interesting articles to me. Unfortunately my eyes are on the big picture right now, how to get a couple more judges like Roberts and Alito and Clarence Thomas. We’re too close to take a chance on that. I’m looking at who can appoint a couple of good judges right now. You could call it being practical.
This article might well be appropriate long term. Short term [2008] I’m not sure.
I can’t see it right now. I need time to evaluate this.
But what about a few-party system like the UK, Canada, and Australia have. Seems to work quite well in my book.
You just need a far left party, a left-centre party, a right-centre party and a far right party, correct?
With the election rules passed by the two parites in power (especially in the wake of Perot's 19% in 1992), it's almost impossible to start a successful third party.
“Two-thirds against two-party system”
I am no fan of Zogby, but I am actually against the “party system” altogether.
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