Posted on 07/23/2020 9:14:08 AM PDT by rxsid
Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They’re Afraid to Share
Strong liberals are “the only political group who feels they can express themselves” without fear of repercussions, a new Cato Institute survey finds.
In a national survey of 2,000 Americans at least 18 years old, conducted July 1-6, 2020, Cato asked respondents to agree or disagree with the following statement:
“The political climate these days prevents me from saying things I believe because others might find them offensive.”
Sixty-two percent (62%) of Americans agreed, up from 58% in 2017, leading Cato to conclude that “self‐censorship is on the rise in the United States.”
Republicans were the most likely to be afraid to share their views (77%), followed by 59% of Independents. Slightly more than half (52%) of Democrats said they were afraid to voice their opinions.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
Most of my conservative family, friends and myself learned the hard way during the Clinton/Monica era not to discuss it with liberals, middle of the road voters and even moderate Republicans.
We have a list of people, friends and relatives with whom, we send and receive emails and texts with on a regular basis. Every once in awhile, one of them goes off the rails permanently or for a while.
Everyday on Free Republic, supposedly great FR conservatives try to stab our president in the back because of whatever at that moment.
The Silent Majority is “still” out there.
Being silent might prevent your home being attacked or your family members or both.
I appreciate when someone (especially a relative) reveals they are a drooling lefty fool.
I _know_ that I cannot trust them to be there if/when times get tough.
It is a great gift to know that in advance, rather than learning it the hard way when it counts.
For those with a job, they must mind their ps and qs.
Your post brings to mind something William L. Shirer wrote, to the effect that Germans are admirable individually, yet wretched in the collective.
We’re headed that way if we allow ourselves to be intimidated and silenced.
The Armenians and the Jews liked their vehicles too.
“That’s because it can literally cost you your livelihood (and in a few cases even your life). You see stories everyday about someone getting fired because they made an innocent and perfectly reasonable comment about not supporting BLM or liking President Trump, or opposing some leftist scheme, or retweeted something from the wrong person. Things that a decade ago you could have said and nobody would have batted an eye. It’s just not worth taking the chance if you have a good paying corporate job, you make the wrong offhand comment that somebody overhears and suddenly your career is in the toilet.”
‘Most of us have gone into “Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick” mode. We keep our heads down and say nothing, but you can bet on election day we’ll be pulling out the big stick and voting for Trump.’
I learned the lesson about bumper stickers when I had GW stickers on the front and back of my OJ Simpson Bronco. I got stopped 3 times in our home city/area by female cops for pure BS reasons. I didn’t get tickets as I told the 3 of them I would see them in court to defend my no tickets. Two of them my wife was with me and helped to back down the cops.
On time backing up in the parking lot of our library my wife yelled stop. This old left wing hag had pulled behind my Bronco and stopped. I got out to tell her to move and she gave me the finger. I reached the window and turned off her motor and took her keys.
One woman also with GW stickers had called the cops and was outside yelling at the old liberal.
We were a walking distance from the police station, and 2 cops walked over. The woman with the pro GW stickers said that the hag had been doing that in various parking lots. The cops had her vehicle towed away. I gave them, her keys.
Later that day, the hag’s son (actually a nice guy) asked me not to press charges. I told him that unless his mother gave him the keys, and they sold her car, I was pressing charges.
She stopped driving.
I had one more event, a female CHP stopped my wife and I on route 101 for speeding. My wife handled that one. As the CHP drove away, she and I got out and removed the GW stickers. I haven’t been stopped nor ticketed since then.
Michigan teacher fired because he posted “Trump is our President”
If that isn’t chilling free speech, I don’t know what is.
As NY’er, surrounded by lefties, I simply avoid political discussions. My brother (from Oregon) even went off on me: “I thought you were educated..., etc.” when I told him I supported Trump.
Very frustrating seeing the world turn against you if you voice your opinion for the guy who has done the most for all - especially minorities and the underprivileged. Thank God for sites like this (and a few others) to visit and share without fear of retribution.
I believe I am not alone. We are the silent majority! We are pissed and we vote.
Thomas Sowell wrote an excellent book on the subject almost 25 years ago. It is still very relevant.
The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy
https://smile.amazon.com/Vision-Anointed-Self-Congratulation-Social-Policy/dp/046508995X
That’s funny right there. And probably true.
Will unabashedly and proudly state to anyone who asks where I stand politically, “I’m right of Rush Limbaugh”
Stopped by female cops only? I think they hoped to hit on you. Bronco - check. GW sticker - check. They knew a real man was driving, not some snowflake in environmentally friendly car.
As I said on another thread.If the Dem’s are afraid to express their opinions it’s not because they support Biden. Trump in a landslide.
Couldn't agree more.
I have yet to be asked by a pollster...anything.
Wondering if the same people get polled over and over again because they are on some kind of list that gets passed around between the pollsters.
Big business and others have punished those who make even innocent comment to set an example for people to be quiet and express only permitted slogans.
The extreme treatment given to Rosanne Barr many others for minor comments are meant as warnings.
Yes, that's the bottom line.
I could care less as well if they feeeeel offended by my political views.
What I care about is loosing a job, loosing the ability to earn a living, etc. and so on. That's real.
Just ask Justin Kucera.
Sure he can...and should sue for wrongful termination. In the year(S) it would take to get a verdict in his favor (definitely not a certainty these days), what does he do for a job in this poisonous climate?
The 2020 elections...and not just for POTUS...will be our republic's Rubicon moment.
It’s also pathetic and telling that people actually feel that way.
Say what you want when you want and NEVER apologize if someone gets offended. Apology is weakness.
If you offend someone it’s their problem not yours.
If 2/3 of all Americans are afraid to speak up because of the loud-mouth 10% or 15%, then we are big trouble. BUT, will people associate this fear with the people they elect? Will it move people toward the “R” side?
Of course, the “R” side continues to show themselves to be feckless, absolutely spineless wimps (as they have for decades). NONE of them have spoken up against the anarchs-tyranny that has befallen many cities. NONE of them have spoken up for freedom and liberty.
Rubicon moment, indeed.
“Stopped by female cops only? I think they hoped to hit on you. Bronco - check. GW sticker - check. They knew a real man was driving, not some snowflake in environmentally friendly car.
“BOL, I also had my go Navy sticker on the outside of the tailgate and my Navy baseball hat on with my Paul Newman/Jeff Chandler Gray hair curling around outside of the hat! (my wife’s description)
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