U.S. Political Ideology Stable With Conservatives Leading

GALLUP POLL ^ | 8/1/2011 | Lydia Saad

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans' political ideology at the midyear point of 2011 looks similar to 2009 and 2010, with 41% self-identifying as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 21% as liberal.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

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%.

The 2011 half-year results are based on more than 10,000 U.S. national adults interviewed across 10 Gallup and USA Today/Gallup surveys conducted from January through June.

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%.

Relatively small and equally matched proportions of independents put themselves at the far right and far left of the political spectrum. The plurality of independents (44%) says they are moderate.

Click link for graphs, etc.

[stockpirate]

BOENHER AND MCCONNELL ARE NOTHING MORE THEN PROSTITUTES FOR THE LEFT

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Why are libertarians, authoritarians, and “apolitical” political ideology positions excluded from this poll? This isn’t an accurate poll, no matter what anybody has to say about it.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I don’t buy these polls anymore.

If 41% of the American people were really conservatives, we wouldn’t be having so much trouble getting more real conservatives elected. You’re not a conservative when you *say* you want the budget cut, but then flip out when your particular little program that you benefit from is potentially up on the block.

[yup2394871293]

Moderates are nothing more than people who wait around for someone to tell them what to think. Liberals don’t think, period. They emote.

[dfwgator]

World’s Smallest Book: “Great Moderates in History.”

[onedoug]

And it´s getting us what?

[Zhang Fei]

The problem is that a lot of people calling themselves conservatives hold values that cover every item on the liberal checklist. Far more accurate to ask people what they believe on various issues, and then categorize their ideologies on the basis of those beliefs.

[GeronL]

Do you realize how few leftists would get elected if the MSM were actually reporting fairly on politics and stuff??

[kearnyirish2]

Yes, these are nonsense. “Conservative” is relative; Rudy Giuliani was a “conservative” in NYC, but a far lefty anywhere else. I work with “conservatives” who are fiscal conservatives, but socially to the left of Barney Frank (but they claim to be “conservative”) - they actually support “gay marriage” and legalized abortion, but just because they don’t want to pay taxes or support people on welfare they think they are conservative.

Unfortunately, many “conservatives fit this mold; here on FR they seem to be called “RINOs”.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks IllumiNaughtyByNature.

[PENANCE]

Every year this poll comes out. And every year, the same result. An impossible result.

Every year it gets touted by Rush and Hannity and Levin as if it revealed some incontrovertible fact that we'll be back to a Constitutional federal republic in practically no time.

Every year it's bunk.

Putting faith in polls makes one a fool. Putting faith in THIS particular poll makes one an irredeemable schmuck.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

This is backwards. Should read:

“Conservative political ideology stable with America leading”.

Conservatives will win and lead, by looking out for America.

Not “trade”. Not globalists. Not selling America down the Yangtse River.

AMERICA.

[wally-balls]

People who don’t have the moral clarity to avow a personal political philosophy (ie Moderates) cannot be counted upon to make reasoned decisions and since the inability to reason is the domain of liberalism that makes them liberal by default. Forty-one percent conservative is not a number to take comfort in. That is discouraging in the extreme since 59% of those polled believe it’s ok to follow the constitution only some of the time...if at all

[cake_crumb]

Every major poll seems to have a different ideology as the majority.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

——————I don’t buy these polls anymore.-——————

I do.

I can’t tell you how hard it’s been to get members of my family.......... REPUBLICAN members of my family...........

To stop buying the local drive-by rag paper. To stop watching ABC news. To stop believing that journalists are on their side.

The media is the matrix. The only way to take the red pill is to stop buying the newspaper, and turn the TV off. Don’t think that all 41% of conservatives have done this. They haven’t. They’re trying to be conservative through the interpretations of a far left wing media. Think about that.

They’re trying to be conservative through the interpretations of a far left wing media. Suddenly, a lot of things make sense, now don’t they?

[rmlew]

All well and good, but do you ever notice that conservatism, or at least the majority of conservatives keep moving to the left on social issues, while accepting more and more of big government?