Democrats and Republicans losing support, Independent affiliation rallying, America still a conservative nation for the most part.
At least that’s how I see it according to new info at the Pew Research here.
From the article – “Both political parties have lost adherents since the election and an increasing number of Americans identify as independents. Owing to defections from the Republican Party, independents are more conservative on several key issues than in the past. Independents are more skittish than they were two years ago about expanding the social safety net and are reluctant backers of greater government involvement in the private sector. “
Interesting. The study shows that independents as a whole are far more conservative, especially on economic freedom and taxes than they have been in the past. Defections from the big-government conservatism and betrayal of Reagan ideals for the Republican Party culminating in this? I personally know many friends and family that have changed party affiliation from Repub to either Independent or Libertarian. The Republican Party lost it’s way on the the most party-defining issues, taxes, big government spending, and the fiscal future of the US.
It would seem that the Obamanation agenda of taxing everything that moves, pushing untold trillions in debt onto our children and increasing the scope and oppression of the Federal government is not something that the public favors. Not so fast. As shown to the right, a majority of the public does not favor government helping the needy and going into debt to do so, and a majority thinks the Feds have too much power, although down from 2007. The glaring inconsistency? 86% of the public thinks that the government needs to make health care affordable and accessible. This is why the statist beat the drum incessantly on socialized medicine. Then in a 180 degree turn, respondents worry about the government becoming too involved in health care 46% to 54%.
Bottom line here? I think that independents are gaining ground in the electorate, if they commanded a 3rd party it would have the highest affiliation in the country. It seems that a lot of disaffected Repubs and fiscal conservatives have joined their ranks. It also seems to me that although, (with health care), there are philosophical inconsistencies, A majority of Americans are still center-right and have a negative opinion of socialism. The question is then, when will Americans revolt against the Obamanation as they did against leaders in CA on Tuesday?
Time will tell.
17 comments:
I always used to look down on people who identified themselves as independents. I thought that meant they were fence-sitters who waited to see which way the wind was blowing before picking a side. Well, that’s the way I thought back when I thought the Republicans really were different from the Democrats!
Now I can understand it better – there’s just not much choice. It can’t hurt to be unaffiliated with one of the major parties, although I still am.
Unfortunately, it would still take awhile for either a third party to get big enough or for a major party like the Republicans to get their act back together. But if we get enough pressure and take away enough votes, that might become a possibility. The socialist Norman Thomas ran for president 6 times. When he stopped running, somebody asked him why and he said, “Because the Democratic Party adopted my platform.”
Unfortunately, independent doesn’t mean third party, and any third party has a huge hurdle to get over to go against our two party system. Maybe the Republicans will reform themselves but I doubt it. Meanwhile, we suffer from one party rule syndrome.
Thanks, by the way, for following my own blog. I appreciate it.
Carl – I used to think that independents were ‘fence sitters’ as well, I don’t any more as well. I registered as a Libertarian in 2004, you could essentially say that designates me as independent as well. I’ve been disgusted by the GOP for years now, culminating with the Bush led Amnesty, No Child Left Behind, Medicare Drugs, LBJ style spending, Bailouts, trillion dollar nation building, TARP….did I miss anything?
Euripies – Even though independent isn’t 3rd party, it still amazing that there are more independents than either GOPers or Dems….that hasn’t happened in a long time. I don’t have very much faith in the GOP as well, we can hope though….thank you too for your readership here, hope to see you more!
lcr,
there is no inconsistancy in thought about health care. it is very reconcilable.
the people do not want a single payer health plan. they want the government to do what it is in their power to do to bring costs down in the private sector. and there is plenty that can be done along those lines. imho, government interference is one reason they are as high as they are.
You forgot just one thing, Left Coast Rebel: the GOP, and Bush especially, killed conservatism.
Griper – I can see what you mean here, you think that the poll shows a clear rejection of socialized med but insistance on the government bringing costs down. Like you I think that state interference and a disconnect from market forces have caused meds pricing issues. I just instinctively think that the feds trying to ‘fix’ and interfere with the medical system will make it much worse off than it already is…
Carl – I should have just blanketed my entire list and said that exactly, you are right…….
I am sorry. I would die before I would ever vote democrat. There is no such thing as “conservative democrats” anymore. They are all liberals and I would never vote for a liberal. I have voted for libertarians before but I don’t think that qualifies as independent.
In Georgia, we don’t have to register with a party. It’s hard enough to request a democrat ballot during their primaries ( I vote for democrats then;-). I say almost any republican is always going to be better than almost any democrat, with the exception of people like Cinthia Snowe and Arlin Specter.
I think we need to repair the republican party so people have a choice that is black and white–I know it has not been that way recently. We need to bring back Reagnomics.
Thanks for reading and following me!
phoebe
Phoebe – no need to apologize, I understand what you mean here. I have to disagree a little though in that libertarians are independent, ie. they are above the left vs right traditional debate. Why do you vote for Dems in the primary? Is that along the lines of Rush’s ”Operation Chaos?” I agree with you surprisingly that we need a strong, conservative, libertarian, capitalistic Republican Party – the party of Reagan. Let’s cross our fingers in 2010, please oh please guys, let’s stop this regime that we have right now!
I think I’m more amazed by how many dems are defecting than by the reps. I can see a rep.wanting to get away from a liberal dem. president. But it says an awful lot when your own (supposedly) dems. are fleeing like rats off a sinking ship.
Good graph.
More and more are becoming independents. When I was working temporary for the Country Voter Registration I was stunned by how many where switching. However, I’ve been opposed to the two party system for nearly 20 years. It’s hopeful to see more people are wising up. It doesn’t mean much if we continue to vote the status quo. I remember when I was voting for Ross Perot because I had enough of both parties. I was told I was throwing my vote away all the while being told if they thought he could win, they vote for him. Too bad, we could had ended this nonsense back then, but now look at what we got. We who are truely independents because of the disillusionment of the two parties won’t make any difference if we lack the courage to vote our conscience and stop voting for these two parties. BO must be worried because he tried to have us labled as potential terrorists. That should tell you what the two parties think of independent thinking people.
LCR here’s the downside to that as far as I’m concerned. I think the Republicans lose more than the Dems. The true collectivivsts may vote in small numbers for a commie green candidate, but the overwhelming majority will still pull the D lever. Conservatives will get disgusted by their side–RINOS like Juan McAmnesty–and stay home or vote Libertarian.
Either way, Republicans lose, Americans lose, and we end up with a follower of Saul Alinsky in the White House.
It would be nice, and a downright miracle, if the leadership would look at this and read the truth in the numbers. The truth that Americans think both parties stink worse than a pig farm in 100 degree heat. We need more than independent and libertarian voters, we need some great independent and libertarian candidates.
Oh, I have seen ‘Taken”. It was great! I loved his electricuting that guy with the lightbulb. Obama just projects whimpiness to the world. W. exemplified strength. He was an ass kicker and that’s what our president should be.
Reagan republicans and libertairans are so similar. We need to get the republican party back to Reaganomics.
Ananda girl – Dems aren’t happy right now either, it’s a dirty little secret that the media isn’t letting the public in on, they make it seem that Dems a unanimously happy right now!
Madmath1 – Millions voted for Perot and things are MUCH worse now…didn’t he get 20% of the vote?
Jingoist – I agree, but I think that the free-market friendly side of the independents is going to be a powerful force, those folks combined with Reaganites, Libertarians, etc could be a powerful coalition….Juan was indeed a joke….
Tommi J – I disagree, I’d say closer to a pig farm in 125 degree heat in the Sahara desert…
Phoebe – I just say ”Taken” too, boy that was a great movie, I should write up an entry on it….very unusual to see such a movie out of Hollyweird…
Carl expressed my feelings.I agree.
I have reservations as to the viability of a third party. In the past, attempts at a third-party win have hardly been successful.
That said, I do detect that some BHO supporters I know aren’t supportive any longer. They know that they’re getting the shaft — particularly the middle-class ones.
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