Posted on 08/22/2019 9:21:45 AM PDT by TexasGurl24
To many, those on the extreme left appear to be more politically radical, insular, vocal and politically active than their moderate or even extremely conservative counterparts. It turns out that this is entirely correct.
In addition to a host of new studies and reports showing that liberals live in a digital bubble and have less diverse social media networks than moderates or conservatives, new data from the AEI Survey on Community and Society adds another layer to the story: Extreme liberals are notably more active on social media generally and are far more politically engaged than their moderate and even very conservative counterparts.
The AEI data reveals that social media has helped created an echo chamber around extreme liberals at rates significantly greater than other ideological groups. While 25% of very liberal respondents stated that social media made them “a lot” more involved with like-minded others, just 13% of moderates and very conservative identifiers believed that the internet increased their connections to similar people to that degree.
In other words, extreme liberals are almost twice as likely to interact with those who share similar outlooks to themselves online compared to conservatives and centrists.
Going further, progressives are also far more dominant online when expressing their views. Forty-eight percent of very liberal Americans report posting online about their politics, such as publicly supporting causes and campaigns, compared to just 23% of moderates and 30% of very conservative Americans. Once again, very liberal Americans are twice as likely to engage digitally compared to moderates. Such behaviors can further radicalize those in these echo chambers.
Turning to offline activism and engagement, those who identify as very liberal are far more vigorous when it comes to promoting political views and messaging compared to the average American as well. While there is parity with reported voter turnout for extreme liberals and conservatives, extreme liberals are far more likely to engage in other forms of participation, from contacting elected officials to attending rallies and political events compared to any other ideological group.
Forty percent of very strong liberals state that they have asked their friends, neighbors, family, or coworkers to support a particular candidate or a political position. The number who have done this drops to 20% for moderates and jumps up a bit to 27% for those who are very conservative, but these are real disparities. As for contacting an elected official or a politician about an issue, those who are very liberal are twice as likely to do this compared to moderates and all conservative identifiers. The same ratio exists when one considers if someone worked or volunteered for a political party, candidate, or a group that tried to impact public policy.
When looking at very public political rallies, protests, speeches, or campaigns event, it is three times more likely that one who is extremely liberal will be at a pubic political event compared to both moderates and all forms of conservatives. As for talking about politics, 47% of Americans state that they discuss politics or current affairs at least once a week or more frequently. In contrast, 67% of very liberal Americans talk politics at the same frequency (a 20-point difference) and those who are very conservative talk more often than the average but at a lower 54%. Moderates talk politics just 34% of the time.
The ideology gap narrows a bit when asked about displaying a campaign poster, bumper sticker, lawn sign, or button. Thirty-five percent of extreme liberals report doing this compared to 24% of liberals, 19% of moderates and conservatives, and 25% of "very conservative" American. But the prevailing trend is absolutely clear: very liberal Americans are far more likely to participate in traditional forms of political expression and engagement than any other ideological group.
In short, the data makes it abundantly clear that a very small, extremely liberal group — less than 5% of the sample here — makes a lot of noise both online and on the ground. It is very insular and far more active in its political behaviors than even its "very conservative" counterparts.
Those who identify as very liberal in the United States are true outliers in terms of their narrow networks and activist political behaviors. Americans should take note and not give them more credence than they deserve. While small numbers of liberals are protesting on Twitter, Facebook, and on the streets, most Americans (even those who are very conservative) are simply living their lives and are not nearly as politically engaged or habitually outraged.
To liberals Politics is life. Conservatives have other fish to fry.
That’s a lot of words to say “they never shut up”.
They are more radical on the Left.
On the conservative side, we believe in certain principles, but we adhere rigidly to the Consitution and Bill of Rights to guide our actions.
The Left sees the Constitution and Bill of Rights as an impediment to their goals, so they must bypass, ignore, or destroy those rights and that is their guide to action.
If they had their way, they would muzzle conservatives completely at the very least, and at worst, would eradicate us the same way the communists eradicate their ideological enemies. History has shown us all to clearly how leftists operate.
Which is why we will not surrender our 2nd Amendment rights to be at the mercy of their tyranny.
IMO, and generally speaking, Conservatives are anchored in faith, family, and country. Liberals are anchored in nothing but themselves and are generally weak people emotionally, and certainly spiritually. Politics is their religion. They are their own gods in their political religion. This is why you they cast themselves as the morally superior and everyone else that challenges their ideological religion is... a racist or Hitler, or both.
The liberals hate the Americans.
Period.
They can’t be reasoned with, they can’t be bargained with. They don’t feel pity of remorse or fear,and they absolutely will not stop until you America is dead.
h/t James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd and William Wisher
I never saw the breakout between conservatives and liberals but it used to be 40% conservative and 20% liberals. When it comes to poles, surveys and studies like this I still remember them telling us Hillary won.
To liberals Politics is life.
Yes, to true leftists politics is religion and government is god.
They’re communists.
I have a number of friends and relatives with whom I do not discuss politics.
I have not cut anyone out of my life because of their political beliefs.
I have a number of friends and relatives who have cut me off because of my political beliefs.
It’s not so much that we argued about politics (because, as I say, I didn’t discuss politics with them).
It’s that they figured out that I wasn’t agreeing with them enough when they talked politics.
That was enough for them — they wanted nothing more to do with me.
No loss.
I saw a bumper sticker last weekend at a local eatery: Orange Lies Matter.
Despite my annoyance at the sentiment, I would never damage another person’s property for their viewpoint. Neither would anyone else I know who holds conservative views.
I live in a very leftist area. Any hint of right wing politics would cause my car to be damaged in any parking lot or on any street in this city. It happened to friends and acquaintances and they too, will not display their sentiments now.
Therein lies the difference. The left is immoral, has no distinction between yours and theirs, is slavishly opinionated and is ripe for the embrace of totalitarianism.
This does not mean I will not speak out. It means I will choose my battles in this war.
The Revolutionary Vanguard.
I have also come to despise the term “moderate”. To me, a “moderate” is simply a designation who hasn’t expended the time or the effort to understand an issue enough to be either consistent or reality-based enough to make an informed decision about an issue.
In the end, they are emotion-based, which makes them leftists.
I run in to these types too. They suffer from a form of allodoxaphobia. It is not treatable.
As with your experiences, when I lived/worked in ‘The People’s Republik of Madistan’ I had my car keyed and a window smashed due to a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker
“This does not mean I will not speak out. It means I will choose my battles in this war.”
I, too, live/act/vote subversively. I smile and nod a lot. I play dumb a LOT with leftist family and friends. ;)
I think it’s the times myself. They’re the ones upset now and we are all fighting apathy because Obama isn’t in power screwing up the economy and healthcare.
They encase themselves because they CANNOT debate the issues, have no knowledge of history or the Constitution, and certainly have little knowledge of what they claim to believe. A debate with them finally comes down to calling their opponent names. They simply have nothing to justify what they believe.
I’m fairly active on Twitter- I especially love responding to DNC tweets. THAT is FUN!
I live within a few miles of Harvard Square,which I visit often. I also live within a few miles of Mike Dukakis's home.
I've had my tires flattened (and cut) and I've had dozens of bumper stickers either removed from my car or defaced.
Hear you. Here in NorCal my car was keyed for displaying an American flag sticker after 9/11. Conservative commentator Kurt Schlichter is right: they would kill us if they could get away with it.
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