Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Sat May 3, 2014, 01:53 PM May 2014

Is the USA Center-Right? An Issue-by-Issue Breakdown

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/05/03-2

Economic Issues

According to Gallup polling, 59% of Americans think that the US distribution of wealth “should be more evenly distributed” among a larger percentage of the people while only 33% thought that the current “distribution is fair.” While this is down from the 2008 modern high point, where 68% of Americans supported more redistribution, the public opinion of redistribution has held a stable majority, if not super-majority, for decades.



According to Pew Research, 69% of Americans oppose any cuts to Social Security or Medicare, even in order to cut the deficit, while only 23% support such cuts. Additionally, 59% oppose cuts on programs assisting the poor in order to address the deficit, while only 33% support such austerity.



A multitude of polls have indicated that between 60% and 80% of Americans support increasing taxes on the wealthy, depending upon how the question is worded and the polling venue—this indicates that a majority of Americans support increasing taxes on top-earners in order to reduce the deficit.



According to Quinnipiac Polling, 71% of Americans support increasing the minimum wage to at least $10.10 an hour, while only 27% oppose increasing the minimum wage.

According to Gallup Polling, 54% of Americans support labor unions, while only 39% disapprove of unions.

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Is the USA Center-Right? An Issue-by-Issue Breakdown (Original Post) xchrom May 2014 OP
Center-left is more like it Charlos May 2014 #1
Yup. truebluegreen May 2014 #2
We are center left to moderate leftist BlindTiresias May 2014 #3
Kick for more exposure of Third Way and Republican LIES. woo me with science May 2014 #4
... xchrom May 2014 #5
Unions really took it on the chin in the financial crisis. SolutionisSolidarity May 2014 #6
nope frylock May 2014 #7
Keep exposing the lies. woo me with science May 2014 #8
Kick! nt woo me with science May 2014 #9
Maybe moderate right burrowowl May 2014 #10
By our own standards, America is centrist-to-moderate-left... WatermelonRat May 2014 #11
My experience with people, my peers, make it hard to say. Populist_Prole May 2014 #12
Kick woo me with science May 2014 #13
Vaccination against lies. woo me with science May 2014 #14
K&R - Boom. n/t myrna minx May 2014 #15

woo me with science

(32,139 posts)
4. Kick for more exposure of Third Way and Republican LIES.
Sat May 3, 2014, 03:14 PM
May 2014

No more tolerance for these corporate vultures and their propaganda clowns.

6. Unions really took it on the chin in the financial crisis.
Sat May 3, 2014, 05:01 PM
May 2014

Support was steady for 25 years at near 60% then dropped 10 points, while opposition climbed 15 points at the same time. It looks like something similar, but smaller in magnitude, happened in the late 70s/early 80s recession. Conversely, during the post WWII boom, union support was very high. It's a shame that unions get the blame for the state of the economy, especially when union membership is so low these days.

WatermelonRat

(340 posts)
11. By our own standards, America is centrist-to-moderate-left...
Sun May 4, 2014, 11:57 AM
May 2014

But by European standards, I think we do probably lean right as a whole.

Populist_Prole

(5,364 posts)
12. My experience with people, my peers, make it hard to say.
Sun May 4, 2014, 01:59 PM
May 2014

I think it can be safely said that to whatever degree this country is "right", owes solely to the issues of guns and/or religion. Take those two issues out and I find the vast majority to be center-left.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Is the USA Center-Right? ...