Is conservativism really the dominant political view in this country?

[Cary]

Rick Friedman, in his March 2 article here about how the conservative movement may be splintering, declares conservativism to be the dominant political view in this country. I have heard a few conservatives declare this to be so. Is it?

If so, how did it happen? We had 8 years of Clinton, after we threw Bush I out. Clinton was more in the center (but rightists claim that all centrists are liberals). I don't think Bush won, so much as Gore lost. In fact Bush lost the election. So how do they come to say that conservatives dominate? Dominate what?

I think if you truly plotted this stuff out you would get a Bell Curve, with most of us bunched up in the middle. Those at the extremes should be about equal although for some reason I think conservative extremists dominate the internet. They don't think they're extremists, either.

Anyway, I'm curious as to what other DU-ers think about this. Maybe there are some good articles or studies?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. NO! it is the bushco CORPORATE MEDIA that portrays this LIE!

[Cat Atomic]

2. No, this country is liberal-moderate.

The words "liberal" and "socialism" have been effectively demonized by our corporate leadership and press.

Ask people on the street about whether or not they like a living wage. Or national health care. Or Social Security. They support these things.

[catzies]

11. That's how it works for me. Strip away the labels, look at the issues.

When having discussions with people who say "I'm not a liberal," I start with the points and go down the list, just like you said.

I for one wear the liberal label proudly and on my sleeve, but others don't, but I encourage them to look beyond the labels, and think critically for themselves about the issues.

[w4rma]

3. Nope. Neo-conservatives are in power, not conservatives.

Conservatives are a minority in the Republican Party, IMHO.

The Democratic Party has much the same problem with neo-liberals/centrists vs. liberals/moderates.

Neo-conservatives, neo-liberals and centrists tend to side with big buisness against the interests of regular Americans.

[IrateCitizen]

4. You would believe this from watching TV or listening to radio...

... but it would be a false perception. People by and large believe that conservatism is the "dominant philosophy" because of two factors: the media tells them so through perception, and because they really don't understand what the harsh reality of the conservative philosophy is today.

If the country is so conservative, then why did an overwhelming majority of people who were polled as to whether they would want a tax cut or more money spent on education, respond that they would want more money spent on education?

If the country is so conservative, then why does support for maintaining present SS payouts remain at high levels?

if the country is so conservative, they why do a majority of Americans feel that basic health care should be a right rather than a privilege?

[stepnw1f]

5. Most People I Know..

.. favor a socialized system, in conjunction with capitalism that is regulated and fair. This is from a blue collar.

[mobuto]

6. The dominant political view = Apathy

Most Americans don't give a damn one way or the other. They should - Bush hurts them in far more ways than they realize.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. i completely agree

its sad cos the political climate of this country is so exciting...

[salinen]

7. No.

The media is so lopsided towards the conservative view, yet, polls are showing demo lead head to head. This tells me that regardless that conservative views are the only views being trumpeted, people are not buying the product. Liberals are shown to be demons from hell, and that these face holes are not getting through.

[Cary]

8. That is how I thought of it too. But this article, here at DU, . . .

threw me for a loop.

[Yavin4]

9. There's No Dominant Political Philosophy In America

The Republicans are in charge because they're adept at exploiting geographical differences. They've consolidated power throughout the South, and that gives them the majorities in Congress. However, once in office, they still spend the same amount of money that a Liberal government would spend. The Southern economy is heavily dependent on government programs in agriculture, defense, and healthcare. Thus, conservatives are winning office based on conservative principles, but they're governing like wild spending Liberals.

[LeahMira]

10. The U.S. is conservative...

I think if you truly plotted this stuff out you would get a Bell Curve, with most of us bunched up in the middle. Those at the extremes should be about equal although for some reason I think conservative extremists dominate the internet. They don't think they're extremists, either.

If you did your bell curve just for the U.S., you probably would find most people somewhere in the middle. The point is, where is our middle? In comparison to the rest of the world, the U.S. would come in rather significantly bunched toward the right end of the curve. Probably that's why Friedman sees the conservative movement as the dominant one in this country.

As so many have said before now, we really do not have a leftist party in the U.S. and we don't have one because, generally speaking, people are not interested enough to demand one.

[Lab Owner]

13. Just my two cents . . .

I think the country really IS conservative. First of all, in 1992 Clinton only got something like 42% of the vote. That's not much. If Bush I had been MORE conservative, about taxes ("Read my lips . . .") or whatever, much of the Republican base who stayed home or voted for Perot (to make a statement) would have turned out for Bush, and Clinton would never have been elected.

Then, look at 1994. "The Republican Revolution." The American electorate turned out to make a statement about high taxes, national healthcare, and what they think of as creeping socialism. I've heard it said that it was a referendum on Clinton. If he'd been up for re-election that year he'd have probably lost in a humiliating landslide. The result was that Clinton made a SHARP right turn--welfare reform, DOMA, etc. If he hadn't done that, he may not have won in 1996.

[lapislzi]

14. Most of us are arguing between the 40-yard lines

Then there are those RWers who keep trying to move the 50-yard line closer to their goal. What does that do to the rest of the playing field?

(just my view from the cheap seats)

[Mairead]

15. No, it's not and the evidence is immediately available

in popular culture. Look at the themes of the most popular political and humor cartoons, the most popular novels, the biggest-grossing films, etc. They're almost without exception the ones that we'd term 'liberal', 'progressive', 'anti-corporatist', 'leftist', etc.

We don't celebrate ordinary people getting screwed over. When we portray that at all, it's always with anger, sadness, or both.