Gallup: Liberal Self-Identification Edges Up to New High in 2013

[240 is Back]

How does the MOST LIBERAL senator win 330 electoral votes in a country where only 22 or 23% of people will admit they are liberals?


PRINCETON, NJ -- Americans continue to be more likely to identify as conservatives (38%) than as liberals (23%). But the conservative advantage is down to 15 percentage points as liberal identification edged up to its highest level since Gallup began regularly measuring ideology in the current format in 1992.

The figures are based on combined data from 13 separate Gallup polls, including interviews with more than 18,000 Americans, conducted in 2013.

When Gallup began asking about ideological identification in all its polls in 1992, an average 17% of Americans said they were liberal. That dipped to 16% in 1995 and 1996, but has gradually increased, exceeding 20% each year since 2005.

The rise in liberal identification has been accompanied by a decline in moderate identification. At 34% in 2013, it is the lowest Gallup has measured, and down nine points since 1992. Moderates had been the largest ideological group throughout the 1990s, and competed with conservatives for the top spot during the 2000s. Since 2009, conservatives have consistently been the largest U.S. ideological group.

The percentage of conservatives has always far exceeded the percentage of liberals, by as much as 22 points in 1996. With more Americans identifying as liberals in recent years, and conservative identification holding steady, the conservative advantage of 15 points ties the 2007 and 2008 gaps as the smallest.

Ideological Self-Identification, Annual Averages, 1992-2013

[chadstallion]

and after Cruz is the gop nominee the lib numbers will go of the top of the charts.

[240 is Back]

and after Cruz is the gop nominee the lib numbers will go of the top of the charts.

Repubs have run RINOs twice, against a very shady and weak/damaged Obama... and they lost pretty badly each time.

I don't see how a Cruz could do worse.  If the normal moderates vote as they do, and the Repub base bothers to just show up, Cruz (or any solid conservative) could win the election. 

[AD2100]

Cruz (or any solid conservative) could win the election. 

You sure are STUPID

[Shockwave]

As long as the school system mostly pushes liberal viewpoints, were going to see a move left for the entire nation. It was bad when I was a child, its worse now talking to my relatives and people working in the schools. Kids are being basically indoctrinated to belive the liberal idealogy, and those that dissent or quietly disagree are belittled, mocked, or marginalized by the teacher or their fellow students for disagreeing.


Imho, its inevitable.  There is a strong push at all levels of education to oush liberal beliefs, so naturally the country shifts left as this kids become voting age.

[Archer77]

The right needs to abandon pointless issues like preventing gay marriage, the war on drugs and pushing religion.

[240 is Back]

As long as the school system mostly pushes liberal viewpoints, were going to see a move left for the entire nation.

As a former teacher, I wish to challenge this...

First, let's agree upon the fact most of what is determined about what is taught, is determined at the state level.  Can't blame obama when the States themselves control teh vast majority of things:

The U.S. Constitution leaves the responsibility for public K-12 education with the states.
States and localities are the primary sources of K-12 education funding and always have been.
There are no unfunded federal education "mandates." Every federal education law is conditioned on a state or other grantee's decision to accept federal program funds.
Source: http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/index.html?exp=3

Now that we've established any "liberalization" of the school system would be at the state level (or lower), let's move on.
We have 30 Repub governors with absolute veto power to squash any terrible school policy.  That's 60% of them.

So exactly WHO is moving everything liberal? 

[tonymctones]

for fucks sake, do you get a hard on for being a dousche or what....

[headhuntersix]

As a former teacher, I wish to challenge this...

First, let's agree upon the fact most of what is determined about what is taught, is determined at the state level.  Can't blame obama when the States themselves control teh vast majority of things:

The U.S. Constitution leaves the responsibility for public K-12 education with the states.
States and localities are the primary sources of K-12 education funding and always have been.
There are no unfunded federal education "mandates." Every federal education law is conditioned on a state or other grantee's decision to accept federal program funds.
Source: http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/index.html?exp=3


Really 240...the education system in this country isn't liberal?  In Texas the books used are the same ones used by the wack job leftist states. The School boards control things. Maybe Perry should get involved but he doesn't until there's an outrage somewhere. The Feds call the shots regardless of what you posted and the school boards, in bed with the unions, want the dollars and push the leftist agenda.

Now that we've established any "liberalization" of the school system would be at the state level (or lower), let's move on.
We have 30 Repub governors with absolute veto power to squash any terrible school policy.  That's 60% of them.

So exactly WHO is moving everything liberal? 

[240 is Back]

Since the repubs own congress (which should be able to prevent any liberal federal influence)

Since the repubs own 60% of the governorships (which should be able to veto any liberal state influence)

I have to think they're just not doing their job to stop liberal influence.  Libs will be libs, they're always going to push for liberal changes to things.  The repubs are the grownups in the room, elected to stop that kind of stuff.  Why aren't they?

[Shockwave]

As a former teacher, I wish to challenge this...

First, let's agree upon the fact most of what is determined about what is taught, is determined at the state level.  Can't blame obama when the States themselves control teh vast majority of things:

The U.S. Constitution leaves the responsibility for public K-12 education with the states.
States and localities are the primary sources of K-12 education funding and always have been.
There are no unfunded federal education "mandates." Every federal education law is conditioned on a state or other grantee's decision to accept federal program funds.
Source: http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/index.html?exp=3

Now that we've established any "liberalization" of the school system would be at the state level (or lower), let's move on.
We have 30 Repub governors with absolute veto power to squash any terrible school policy.  That's 60% of them.

So exactly WHO is moving everything liberal?  

A.You taught in FLORIDA.

B.Its not a mandate, it's not the Fed, its the KINDS OF PEOPLE that are teaching students. They're using their positions to push their political idealogies on their impressionable students. I understand you were a teacher and you don't want to admit thats whats happening, but literally almost everyone I've talked to has said their teachers use their position to push their personal beliefs and will squash, belittle, and mock any student who dares disagree.

It was bad when I was in HS 10 years ago... literally everyone I've talked to since has said it's gotten progressively worse.

Teaching attracts liberal minds anyway. To deny this is simply wishful thinking IMHO.

[240 is Back]

Teaching attracts liberal minds anyway. To deny this is simply wishful thinking IMHO.

Teachers are VERY MUCH locked into the state curriculum.  In other words, Rick Scott controls what is in the curriculum.  And to be honest, there is just about NO chance of "let's talk about why obama is awesome" in the daily schedule.  You're mostly scrambling to stay on course with the state tracking so your kids know what will be on the FCAT test in the spring.

Now, if you have some secret info as to why teachers are more liberal in 2014 than they were in 1994, please share it. 

If this is just based upon "people you talk to", well, it's not all that scientific.  I am not sure we can really effectively argue something like this. 

[Shockwave]

Teachers are VERY MUCH locked into the state curriculum.  In other words, Rick Scott controls what is in the curriculum.  And to be honest, there is just about NO chance of "let's talk about why obama is awesome" in the daily schedule.  You're mostly scrambling to stay on course with the state tracking so your kids know what will be on the FCAT test in the spring.

Now, if you have some secret info as to why teachers are more liberal in 2014 than they were in 1994, please share it. 

If this is just based upon "people you talk to", well, it's not all that scientific.  I am not sure we can really effectively argue something like this. 

No shit it's not scientific, it's mostly do to how they teach, what topics they choose, which they gloss over.... getting into why Vietnam was a horrible war, why Bushes policies were bad for America (seriously, I was in High School when Bush 2 was elected and I had to write a paper on why Bushes stances were going to hurt America, not even a joke), why opposing gay rights is the same as endorsing slavery... these are just a few off the top of my head that I EXPERIENCED.... not to mention our librararian that literally made us write papers on the pluses of progressiveness.

And it's only gotten worse from people I've talked to in my family, people I've talked to from friends, their kids...... even the liberal ones tell me how awesome it is that our school system teaches why liberalism is good for the country.....

I don't know why you continue to bury your head in the sand, how many times have we heard of teachers getting sued for trying to push their political ideology on their students?

[240 is Back]

No shit it's not scientific, it's mostly do to how they teach, what topics they choose, which they gloss over....

I disagree - they can't just 'gloss over' anything.  It'll be on the FCAT and if their kids haven't been taught it, they will lose money.  Teachers get more $ if their kids score high on more sections.  Skip the reasons we took on vietnam and guess what, you lose $2k when all of your students miss that question. 

If we want to talk universities, we can do that, but i've worked in the school system and several in my family still do - there is so LITTLE latitude in what they're allowed to do each week, I'd say it's harder than ever to just "wing it" and teach when you want.  There is no "glossing over" when grade levels match up curriculum and admin tracks it weekly. 

If anything, I'd say things are LESS LIBERAL because they're all ACCOUNTABLE now for their actions. 

[240 is Back]

It was bad when I was in HS 10 years ago... literally everyone I've talked to since has said it's gotten progressively worse.

Texas Board Of Education Approves More Conservative Curriculum

USTIN, Texas — The Texas State Board of Education adopted a social studies and history curriculum Friday that amends or waters down the teaching of religious freedoms, America's relationship with the U.N. and hundreds of other items.

The new standards were adopted after a final showdown by two 9-5 votes along party lines, after Democrats' and moderate Republicans' efforts to delay a final vote failed.

In one of the most significant curriculum changes, the board dilutes the rationale for the separation of church and state in a high school government class, noting that the words were not in the Constitution and requiring students to compare and contrast the judicial language with the First Amendment's wording.

The ideological debate over the guidelines, which drew intense scrutiny beyond Texas, will be used to determine what important political events and figures some 4.8 million students will learn about for the next decade.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/21/texas-board-of-education-_n_584697.html


Here's a great article on how it's tougher for liberal activist teachers to have their way, thanks to Common Core standards:
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/344519/truth-about-common-core-kathleen-porter-magee


Perhaps you forget "no child left behind" was designed to have COMMON STANDARDS for all students - thanks, Dubya!


And of course, we see the tea party backing (and achieving) taking over schools (which is awesome!) and going back to the OLD WAY of doing things - hardly growing liberalism:

http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Schools.aspx

[Shockwave]

I disagree - they can't just 'gloss over' anything.  It'll be on the FCAT and if their kids haven't been taught it, they will lose money.  Teachers get more $ if their kids score high on more sections.  Skip the reasons we took on vietnam and guess what, you lose $2k when all of your students miss that question. 

If we want to talk universities, we can do that, but i've worked in the school system and several in my family still do - there is so LITTLE latitude in what they're allowed to do each week, I'd say it's harder than ever to just "wing it" and teach when you want.  There is no "glossing over" when grade levels match up curriculum and admin tracks it weekly. 

If anything, I'd say things are LESS LIBERAL because they're all ACCOUNTABLE now for their actions. 

Ha, yeah, ok dude. Gonna have to disagree with you there. Maybe thats how it is in Florida, but it sure as shit isn't in Washington. They pretty much choose what viewpoint they want to push whenever they're discussing anything political, whether that would be a war, historical moments, hell, pretty much anything besides math and English. Even my science teacher would lecture us about why Conservatives (specifically Christians) have no place in modern science.

I understand what you're saying, but just because they're "supposed" to do something doesn't mean they actually do. That'd be like me arguing that Marines have an ROE that they never break because it's so constrictive.

[Shockwave]

Texas Board Of Education Approves More Conservative Curriculum

USTIN, Texas — The Texas State Board of Education adopted a social studies and history curriculum Friday that amends or waters down the teaching of religious freedoms, America's relationship with the U.N. and hundreds of other items.

The new standards were adopted after a final showdown by two 9-5 votes along party lines, after Democrats' and moderate Republicans' efforts to delay a final vote failed.

In one of the most significant curriculum changes, the board dilutes the rationale for the separation of church and state in a high school government class, noting that the words were not in the Constitution and requiring students to compare and contrast the judicial language with the First Amendment's wording.

The ideological debate over the guidelines, which drew intense scrutiny beyond Texas, will be used to determine what important political events and figures some 4.8 million students will learn about for the next decade.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/21/texas-board-of-education-_n_584697.html


Here's a great article on how it's tougher for liberal activist teachers to have their way, thanks to Common Core standards:
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/344519/truth-about-common-core-kathleen-porter-magee


Perhaps you forget "no child left behind" was designed to have COMMON STANDARDS for all students - thanks, Dubya!


And of course, we see the tea party backing (and achieving) taking over schools (which is awesome!) and going back to the OLD WAY of doing things - hardly growing liberalism:

http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Schools.aspx

Well no shit, typically Conservative states aren't pushing liberal mentalities.
Derp.

[240 is Back]

Ha, yeah, ok dude. Gonna have to disagree with you there. Maybe thats how it is in Florida, but it sure as shit isn't in Washington. They pretty much choose what viewpoint they want to push whenever they're discussing anything political, whether that would be a war, historical moments, hell, pretty much anything besides math and English. Even my science teacher would lecture us about why Conservatives (specifically Christians) have no place in modern science.

I understand what you're saying, but just because they're "supposed" to do something doesn't mean they actually do. That'd be like me arguing that Marines have an ROE that they never break because it's so constrictive.

Washington state has one of the fastest plummeting teacher salary rates in the country for the past few years.  I'm pretty sure that's what helped the repub governor lose his job when it was thought impossible... you're still ranked in the middle of the pack nationally, despite that.   Maybe a dem in office with Inslee will help fix things?

[240 is Back]

Well no shit, typically Conservative states aren't pushing liberal mentalities.
Derp.

wait - we know that oly 40% of the country has dem governors.

So um, 40% pushing left, while 60% of them (the repubs) are pushing right... why are things getting MORE liberal?

Are repubs above that kind of change (of course not, we can find plenty of examples of repub ed reform), or are dems just that much better at it (again, impossible, we all know libs are incompetent).   The third option, my belief, is that thanks to higher standards, things are actually LESS liberal.   Also, thanks to cell phone cameras in every classroom in the country, teachers are MUCH less likely to give their own political rants, cause they don't want to end up on Oreilly lol.

[Soul Crusher]

LMFAO.  Only a fuvking fag, commie, thug, wlfare brat, 95er, or moron would ever admit to being a lib commie rat

[chadstallion]

The right needs to abandon pointless issues like preventing gay marriage, the war on drugs and pushing religion.

bingo

[Straw Man]

Ha, yeah, ok dude. Gonna have to disagree with you there. Maybe thats how it is in Florida, but it sure as shit isn't in Washington. They pretty much choose what viewpoint they want to push whenever they're discussing anything political, whether that would be a war, historical moments, hell, pretty much anything besides math and English. Even my science teacher would lecture us about why Conservatives (specifically Christians) have no place in modern science.

I understand what you're saying, but just because they're "supposed" to do something doesn't mean they actually do. That'd be like me arguing that Marines have an ROE that they never break because it's so constrictive.

last time I checked, Science and Religious Mythology were two different topics

[Dos Equis]

The right needs to abandon pointless issues like preventing gay marriage, the war on drugs and pushing religion.

How do you think the right is pushing religion?

[Straw Man]

How do you think the right is pushing religion?

LOL

[Archer77]

How do you think the right is pushing religion?

Prayer in schools.  Creationism.  Stuff like that.