Thursday, September 20, 2007

106 - Reason To Cheer, Part II: If Americans Hold Progressive Views, Why Don't They Describe Themselves As Progressives? Here's Why…

Mainstream poll after mainstream poll has consistently shown solid majorities of your fellow citizens -- often 2/3 or more -- endorse all of these progressive positions:

--the government should provide more, not less services
--the government should take care of those who can't take care of themselves
--the government should guarantee health care for every American
--the distribution of wealth in this country is unfairly concentrated
--the wealthy pay too little in taxes
--the minimum wage should be raised
--there is a moral imperative to pay workers a living wage
--undocumented immigrants should have a path to citizenship
--Democrats reflect the nation's moral values more than do Republicans

Together, these constitute bedrock progressive principles and policies.

The mystery in question here arises, when Americans are asked to describe themselves as liberal, moderate or conservative.

If more than half, often 2/3 or more of Americans espouse these progressive positions, shouldn't 2/3 or more of Americans describe themselves -- given the choices liberal-moderate-conservative -- as liberal?

They should, but they don't.

Two organizations have been asking this question for decades.

In short, National Election Studies found 23% liberals, Harris only 18%.

If you told your friendly local right-winger, that Americans hold overwhelmingly progressive positions on most every issue, your friendly local right-winger could throw the Harris and NES polls back at you.

So how you should you respond?

Here's how.

First...

For details, listen to the podcast! You'll learn about self-described conservatives who actually hold progressive positions. And in fact, you'll hear in his own words, a self-described ultra-conservative realizing that he supports many positions that are progressive. How does this happen? Under gentle but probing questioning by yours truly.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 4:02 PM [+]   2 comments
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