Posted on 05/25/2013 10:03:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
After two full election cycles where Americans debated the need to reign in spending, debt and the dubious future of entitlement programs and our nation’s fiscal viability, has the bloom started to come off the rose? A new poll from Gallup has some potentially worrying portents in the top lines.
Forty-one percent of Americans now characterize their economic views as “conservative,” or “very conservative,” the lowest since President Barack Obama took office in 2009 and on par with where views were in May 2008. This year’s downtick in the percentage of Americans identifying as economically conservative has been accompanied by an uptick in the percentage identifying as economically moderate — now 37% of Americans, up from 32% last year.
At the same time, this long running poll shows that the portion of Americans describing their views on social issues as either conservative or very conservative dropping to 35%, tying a low point for the last dozen years. Is this some sort of reason for celebration on the Left? Michael New at National Review sees it as a mixed bag, at least for social conservatives.
This week Gallup released their annual survey that asks Americans to rate the morality of various social issues. Overall, the news was not particularly good for social conservatives. On a variety of issues relating to sex and marriage, Americans are becoming more social liberal. Since 2001, a significantly smaller percentage of Americans are morally opposed to gay and lesbian relations, divorce, and sex between unmarried individuals. There was even a seven-percentage-point increase in the number of Americans who thought polygamy was morally acceptable.
Those numbers are more nuanced than the economic ones, as usually happens in these studies. But those seeking to reign in the government credit card do seem to be on the decline at the moment. But why? Part of the reason may be that people are seeing some signs of life in the economy. Not massive signs of improvement, obviously, but the stock market is up and some additional jobs are coming on line. The lack of a pressing threat, sadly, tends to make people more willing to put their problems off until tomorrow.
Also, fiscal conservatism is hard. Let’s face it… the idea of doing with less for yourself in exchange for a long term benefit for future generations requires a bit more vision than you’ll find in the average shopping mall skateboard club. It was never going to be an easy sell, and if it looks like the party lights are being turned back on – even slightly – there will be a percentage of the pack ready to stock up on drinks and head back to the festivities, running up the tab.
But it will take a few more quarters of trending before we should hit the panic button. Trends are important, but so is the final tally. While those describing themselves as either conservative or very conservative on economic matters reached a high of 51% in 2010, it’s still sitting at 41%. And that is in comparison to only 19% who self-identify as either liberal or very liberal. It’s a change, but winning by a more than two to one margin still ain’t peanuts.
I would say strongly, yes.
The reason in China. More precisely the Peoples Republic of China. A communist nation, with about four times our population.
Our “commercial class” has totally embraced China and has now grown it, to a system larger than our own.
Stop and think about that for a moment. China, where most everything for sale in most stores now, is made. Is communist, still.
Do you suppose they just magically because so competent?
No, American companies sold out. Fired Americans, And sent the jobs to China. Where now millions are working former American jobs. Our economy is in tatters. Yet we continue to import everything, and continue to fire Americans.
And the number of needy Democrats increases constantly.
Yes. We have played a part in our own decline.
Bigtime.
No ... fear is waxing bold.
Just take a look at Detroit, or Greece, or California.
Here in NJ fiscal conservatism is alive & well; we’ve been downsizing our bureaucracies for years to try to keep the state affordable. Gov. Christie’s 2% property tax cap has ensured that more gubmint workers will lose their jobs as public school teachers continue to garner 4% pay increases.
The young people that thought they had found an easy host when they went for the gubmint jobs are looking at fields that won’t have any openings for years to come.
Meh.
Someone who is only conservative fiscally, and defines themselves that way so as not to be held to conservate principles as a whole is too inconsistant in their thinking to hold to anything over time.
RE: Here in NJ fiscal conservatism is alive & well; weve been downsizing our bureaucracies for years to try to keep the state affordable.
And who do you think NJ will vote for to replace Frank Lousenberg?
Thats a pretty brain dead post.
American companies did not “sell out”. They were thrown out on their asses through skyrocketing regulatory expenses.
Many of us who worked in industry were explaining what was going to happen decades ago, and it has played out as predicted.
"The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."
(Adage often erroneously attributed to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin)
Bring back American jobs.
My post is hardly brain dead. Though I disagree with your post.
More strongly by the day.
Buy American.
Plenty of verbal affirmations of fiscal conservatism, but none that I see in practice.
Is there any state that has a smaller budget than eight years ago? Any per capita reductions in spending for students in that time?
Sure seems like Oklahoma, as conservative as they come, is begging for money from DC.
bump
“And who do you think NJ will vote for to replace Frank Lousenberg?”
I don’t know (because that is on a federal level), but whoever it is certainly won’t publicly advocate for raising the federal income tax. Here in NJ the dwindling number of people with jobs are leaning further to the right while the increasing number of those who never intended to work anywhere are predictably where they have always been on the left.
Response: Yes.
Comment: However, this article takes the typical narrow economic view embraced by stupid conservatives. The West has been under tremendous assault led by other civilizations(i.e. Muslims. America is part of the West we are being assaulted too. Not only our economic system is being attacked but also our Christian Religion, Science,(Global Warming Fraud); Political theory, Aesthetics( Pictorial arts and music- Rap is music? Movies); business institutions; educational institutions, marital institutions, attitudes towards the sexes, leadership roles, even the white race is under attack.
And furthermore the "Third World" is winning the war. They have elected one of their own as President; they have taken over major cities,they have taken over many police departments; they have infiltrated the legislative branch and through Gerrymandering by the courts have gained positions of authority; through affirmative action they are, not withstanding their obvious intellectual unfitness, are being placed in teaching and administrative positions where they spew their nonsense to American youth; they have taken over television with its vast influence and upon which after viewing one night one would think America is totally "Third World!"
Thus, all aspects of American Conservatism are being defeated. The left has been patient and have taken the long view. They have been more creative, intelligent, orderly and organized.(Listen to Rush'es "Montages" where different newscasters all repeat the same words as upon a cue.)
I have grave doubts that American Conservatism can regain the initiative by normal political means.
Fiscal conservatism will return when the next economic crisis hits. Its amazing how bankruptcy collapses government spending. And im pretty sure the next economic crisis will result in bankruptcy.
Social liberalism/libertarianism, empowers, creates and imports, and breeds, economic liberals.
Right now, half the country thinks handouts and massive debt spending are great for the economy.
How long do they think that could last?
Sorry you are stuck on some goofy thought that the reality of government imposed expenses can somehow be negated through goofy sloganeering.
The government regulations that forced businesses overseas in order to survive will have to be rolled back to bring the jobs back.
If you want to spout slogans and demand things and chant about how mean businesses are perhaps you would be more at home posting on An “Occupy Wallstreet” site with your fellow believers.
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