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Read the Information... - 3/15/2015 12:16:25 AM

joether

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While on another thread, I used This Info about how media shapes the perception of facts from ideaological perspective. Yet, as I read it more, I felt it talks about much more than just 'the media' and politcs, but much more. I would like to see what people feel and think on the information. I understand some of it is 'no duh, man', but it tries to place things in perspective from time.

The article breaks things down into seven different observations. So it might be helpful to number which section your agreeing/disagreeing with to help keep things....somewhat...sane.

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RE: Read the Information... - 3/15/2015 3:17:48 AM

Kirata

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Here's something that stood out for me on first reading:

The increasing levels of anger and fear in the electorate are, from the political system's standpoint, a feature, not a bug. Pew finds that the angrier and more afraid you are, the likelier you are to actually donate or volunteer . . . Politicians and parties have a choice between rhetoric that paints American politics as a disagreement between two reasonably well-meaning sides and rhetoric that paints it as an apocalyptic confrontation between good and evil. The calmer approach will mean fewer campaign donations and volunteers. The more hysterical messaging will ensure their campaigns have foot soldiers and the money to buy ads.

So, money is the motivator behind the constant drumbeat of political activists stirring up shit. Who would have guessed? But the faithful keep sending in their prayer dollars anyway. Here's another one that caught my eye:

"Fully 84% of those who are consistently conservative in their ideological positions call themselves conservative, as does a smaller majority (61%) of those who are 'mostly conservative' on the scale," finds Pew. The story is different among liberals. "About six-in-ten (62%) consistent liberals say they are liberal, with 31% saying they are moderate, and a handful (6%) calling themselves conservative. And among those who are mostly liberal on the ideological consistency scale, more (44%) say they are moderate than say they are liberal (32%)."

Odd that so many liberals think they're "moderates." I found that an curious disjunction.

K.

(in reply to joether)

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RE: Read the Information... - 3/15/2015 3:48:08 AM

KenDckey

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Interesting chart. Wish it had included the differrence between fiscally conservative/liberal and socially conservative/liberal.

(in reply to Kirata)

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RE: Read the Information... - 3/15/2015 6:06:43 AM

DesideriScuri

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quote:

ORIGINAL: joether
While on another thread, I used This Info about how media shapes the perception of facts from ideaological perspective. Yet, as I read it more, I felt it talks about much more than just 'the media' and politcs, but much more. I would like to see what people feel and think on the information. I understand some of it is 'no duh, man', but it tries to place things in perspective from time.
The article breaks things down into seven different observations. So it might be helpful to number which section your agreeing/disagreeing with to help keep things....somewhat...sane.

1) I'm not surprised that the those that are more engaged are more polarized than those who aren't as engaged. The bigger question might be: Are more people more engaged, or less engaged now than before? If there are fewer more engaged, then, those that have disengaged aren't likely to be the most polarized anyway. That is, the ones who are disengaging are the ones that tempered the polarization before. At trillion dollar spending and tax levels, politics is a bigger deal now, too. Plus, the question that was brought up about conservative/liberal replacing Republican/Democrat is interesting. Today, when you talk about a Conservative, you're much more likely to be talking about a Republican, and the same goes for Liberal/Democrat. That those are converging has an impact on polarization, too.

2) I don't know how to take the "consistency" information. My analysis is mostly, "meh."

3) I'm not surprised. The speed - and variety of ways - at which information can now be disseminated, will lead to changing attitudes. Plus, politics is much bigger money now than it was then. That's going to have an impact, too.

4) I don't know if "fear" is the right word, but I'm not surprised, much like for Section #3.

5) It's all about staying in power, as that gives you access to an awful lot of money.

6) I do wonder why that would be the case. How could 1% of the respondents identify themselves as Liberal when they are consistently Conservative, and how could 6% of consistently Liberal self-identify as Conservative?

7) I'm not surprised by this, either. Why live by people you don't agree with? Bigger houses that are further apart also helps to keep you away from people you might disagree with. This isn't surprising to me at all.

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