It is obvious that Republicans, Democrats, and independents, have differing views of the characteristics and values of the two political parties. This was reinforced by a recent Gallop Poll (http://goo.gl/aYs4c) that surveyed citizens about what they liked and disliked about the Republican and Democratic Parties. In addition to overall answers, the replies were broken down by whether the respondents were Republicans, Democrats, or independents. Few surprises were found.
The qualities about the GOP that were found most deplorable by the public were the Party’s inflexibility and unwillingness to compromise. 21% of all adults, including 26% of self-identified Republicans, named these attributes as the ones that displeased them the most. The second leading negative characteristic was the Party’s protection of the wealthy, instead of standing up for the middle class. 12% of all adults noted this, including 10% of independents and 20% of Democrats. There were numerous other characteristics that Americans disliked about the GOP, but all of those were in single digit percentages. 33% of Republicans either had no opinion or found nothing to dislike about their party.
The attributes most disliked about the Democratic Party were that they spent too much and increased the budget deficits. 14% of all citizens cited this, including 10% of Democrats, 11% of independents, and 23% of Republicans. All other negative feelings were in the single digits. However, 8% of Americans believed the Democrats were too inflexible, 12% of Republicans, 7% of independents, and 6% of Democrats. Similar percentages for each group noted poor leadership as what they most disliked. Interestingly, 51% of Democrats reported nothing to dislike about their party or had no opinion.
In terms of what Americans liked most about the two parties, the qualities cited for the GOP were better fiscal management, budget cuts, and less debt. 11% of citizens were pleased by that, 20% of Republicans, 9% of independents, and 5% of Democrats. The second highest approved characteristic was its conservative views, cited by 10% of all respondents, 20% of Republicans, 7% of independents, and 3% of Democrats. The remaining positive attributes were all in single percentages.
For the Democrats, the most admired characteristic was that the party cared about the middle and working classes. 14% of citizens cited this, 5% of Republicans, 14% of independents, and 22% of Democrats. All the other positive attributes were in the single digits.
The questions raised by a survey such as this is whether the parties will take note and change, particularly in regard to what Americans disliked about them. It’s unlikely that Republicans in Congress will take heed. Because of gerrymandering of Congressional districts by Republican legislatures after the 2010 census, GOP members of Congress only have to answer to voters in
their conservative districts and may not care about overall public opinion. People in their districts may well applaud the fact that their member of Congress is inflexible and unwilling to compromise. However, the view that the party protects the wealthy and does not stand up for the middle class, is not the way Republicans would like to be perceived. On the other hand, the GOP seems unwilling to raise taxes on anyone to give the government more revenue to cut the national debt or provide an economic stimulus.
Though the Democrats were disliked for spending too much, only 14% of the electorate felt that way, including 11% of independents. With Democrats wanting to protect government programs rather than cutting them, it’s unlikely they’ll pay attention to the survey’s results.
In other words, we can expect more of the same from the two parties.
Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com
A VietNam vet and a Columbia history major who became a medical doctor, Bob Levine has watched the evolution of American politics over the past 40 years with increasing alarm. He knows he’s not alone. Partisan grid-lock, massive cash contributions and even more massive expenditures on lobbyists have undermined real democracy, and there is more than just a whiff of corruption emanating from Washington. If the nation is to overcome lockstep partisanship, restore growth to the economy and bring its debt under control, Levine argues that it will require a strong centrist third party to bring about the necessary reforms. Levine’s previous book, Shock Therapy For the American Health Care System took a realist approach to health care from a physician’s informed point of view; Resurrecting Democracy takes a similar pragmatic approach, putting aside ideology and taking a hard look at facts on the ground. In his latest book, Levine shines a light that cuts through the miasma of party propaganda and reactionary thinking, and reveals a new path for American politics. This post is cross posted from his blog.
Resurrecting Democracy can be purchased on Amazon
Political junkie, Vietnam vet, neurologist- three books on aging and dementia. Book on health care reform in 2009- Shock Therapy for the American Health Care System. Book on the need for a centrist third party- Resurrecting Democracy- A Citizen’s Call for a Centrist Third Party published in 2011. Aging Wisely, published in August 2014 by Rowman and Littlefield. Latest book- The Uninformed Voter published May 2020