“Conservative” Tide Rising
Forty percent of Americans classify themselves as “conservative” according to polling conducted over the course of the year by Gallup, compared to 36% who describe themselves as moderates and 20% who describe themselves as liberal.
That’s a three-point increase from a year ago, when conservatives and moderates polled equally at 37%, ahead of liberals, who polled at 22%.
What does it mean?
According to Gallup, the country is “inching to the right.”
“Changes among political independents appear to be the main reason the percentage of conservatives has increased nationally over the past year: the 35% of independents describing their views as conservative in 2009 is up from 29% in 2008,” the poll concludes.
Indeed, over the last year, perceptions of the direction the country is taking have shifted dramatically – with more independents voicing their support for conservative positions.
For example, Gallup found that 45% of Americans now believe there is too much government regulation of business and industry – a nine point jump from a year ago. Additionally, forty-one percent of Americans now believe that the global warming threat is exaggerated, compared to 36% a year ago.
To check out this fascinating snapshot of the nation’s evolving ideological moorings, click on the picture (or the link) below …
WEB EXTRA
Gallup Political Ideology Polling Data
Comments
By Red on October 26th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I think I resemble those remarks. The hysterical global warming crowd is having a tougher time when the warmest year in the last dozen was 1998. And the facts show it is not much warmer now than it was in 1941 or 1878.
It is a shame there isn’t a conservative party for us to get behind.
By jorge on October 26th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
just wait another 5 years once obamacare and cap and tade kick in–we may very well see that number of self-identified conservatives increase…
no worries, though
as long as 47% of americans don’t pay taxes, the dems should still have a lock on the presidency
By Billy Bob on October 26th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
hmmm… just shows that people are generally pretty stupid and can be easily swayed by little real change but lots of verbage. Oh, and by the way Jorge, if you don’t believe global warming is real, then just wait 20 years and it will be way too late. Even tho 1998 is indeed the warmest year, 2009 is on course to be # 2 and 2010 is already looking to replace 1998 as # 1. Also, 8 of the 10 warmest years on record are since 1997. One year does not a trend make.
By James on October 26th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Billy Bob,
Your comment reminds me of this argument, “God is real! I know I cant PROVE it, but its true. Just you wait till the rapture, then you’ll be sorry all right!”
Also, 2009 is looking to be a record cold year, not a warm one. Check your facts.
By Skidmarks on October 26th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Great painting!
By crosstown on October 26th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Simple solution for all you global warming “believers.”
Please renounce all your production of carbon dioxide immediately.
Please ride only bicycles or walk–cars are way too polluting.
For heat just use solar power only.
Give up your ozone-depleting addictions to computers, television, coffee, and aurugala.
Drink only water from a hand-pumped well.
Wear only recycled clothing and eat slugs and snails–everything else requires way too much carbon.
Any questions?
And, yeah–don’t force-feed your RELIGION of environmentalism down my throat…
By Ynot on October 26th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Is there such a thing as a “conservative democrat” and or a ” liberal Republican”?
Most of the people I know fit those catagories
By Workin' Tommy C on October 27th, 2009 at 9:54 am
QUOTE: “By jorge on October 26th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
“as long as 47% of americans don’t pay taxes, the dems should still have a lock on the presidency”
————————————-
Read “The Bell Curve” and you’ll find out that most low IQ people don’t vote though they receive most of the benefits. Thankfully, this is the case so far. I’m sure the Dems and Lindsey Gaham would love to make voting mandatory, however.