Politics is the great divider in United States (Pew poll: 1987 vs. 2012)

[alp227]

Dan Balz, Washington Post, 6/5/12

It hardly took another study for people to know that political polarization in this country is deeply embedded. Still, a report issued Monday by the Pew Research Center paints a particularly stark portrait of a nation in which the most significant divisions are no longer based on race, class or sex but on political identity.

For 25 years, Pew has been conducting regular surveys assessing American values. They provide a series of historical benchmarks by which to examine the changes in what binds people and what divides them. The latest report finds considerable continuity over that quarter-century in the way different groups view society — and one very large change.

(...)

Twenty-five years ago, the gap between Republicans and Democrats on how they assessed the scope and performance of government was six percentage points. Today it is 33 points. On support for the social safety net, what once was a 21-point gap is now 41 points. On environmental issues, the gap has ballooned from five points to 39 points.

On some of these issues, the biggest changes in attitudes have been among Republicans. Twenty-five years ago, 62 percent of Republicans and 79 percent of Democrats said the government should take care of people who can’t take care of themselves. Today, 75 percent of Democrats agree with that statement, but the percentage of Republicans who agree has plummeted to 40 percent.

The shift on environmental issues among Republicans has been even greater. In 1987, 93 percent of Democrats and 86 percent of Republicans said there should be stricter laws and regulations to protect the environment. In the latest survey, Democratic support is unchanged, but among Republicans it has plunged to 47 percent.

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/politics-is-the-great-divider-in-united-states/2012/06/04/gJQALpKSEV_singlePage.html

[dimbear]

1. The divide's no worse than it was in 1860. What could go wrong? n/t

[DallasNE]

2. In Other Words

The concept of divide and conquer using a message of hate works. Democrats have remained pretty much unchanged but Republicans have plunged over the cliff.

[OnyxCollie]

3. 1987. Hmm, what happened in 1987?

Oh, yeah. I remember now. The Fairness Doctrine was eliminated in 1987, and this is the result of 25 years of corporate propaganda without rebuttal.

Don't like the way government is run? Let corporations run it instead.

Social security is a waste, throwing money to those who feel "entitled." Better to use that to give tax cuts to big corporations, rather than help someone who is old, sick, or disabled.

Who needs the EPA? Get rid of the department. All they're concerned with is protecting the air and water that we breathe and drink; making it harder for business with all their job-killing regulations.

The conservative mindset is perfect for corporations. Tell people they are in danger of losing something intangible (like moral dignity) and they will fall over themselves to "restore America's honor." At the same time, send their jobs overseas, destroy the environment, ruin the economy, let people go hungry and cold, and drum up support for the next war for corporate gain. Continue to use stereotypes, tradition, biases, and anecdotal evidence to maintain the deception.

[Zoeisright]

4. Yep, repukes have gone completely crazy.

Facts, science, mean nothing to them. They just sit drooling in front of FUX.