Political Typology 2005

The Pew Research Center offers a poll to figure out what "type" of political American you are, Where Do You Fit? Beyond Red & Blue

My results -- of course -- were liberal.

Liberal
Based on your answers to the questionnaire, you most closely resemble survey respondents within the Liberal typology group. This does not mean that you necessarily fit every group characteristic or agree with the group on all issues.

Liberals represent 17 percent of the American public, and 19 percent of registered voters.

Basic Description
This group has nearly doubled in proportion since 1999, Liberals now comprise the largest share of Democrats and is the single largest of the nine Typology groups. They are the most opposed to an assertive foreign policy, the most secular, and take the most liberal views on social issues such as homosexuality, abortion, and censorship. They differ from other Democratic groups in that they are strongly pro-environment and pro-immigration, issues which are more controversial among Conservative and Disadvantaged Democrats.

Defining Values
Strongest preference for diplomacy over use of military force. Pro-choice, supportive of gay marriage and strongly favor environmental protection. Low participation in religious activities. Most sympathetic of any group to immigrants as well as labor unions, and most opposed to the anti-terrorism Patriot Act.

Who They Are
Most (62%) identify themselves as liberal. Predominantly white (83%), most highly educated group (49% have a college degree or more), and youngest group after Bystanders. Least religious group in typology: 43% report they seldom or never attend religious services; nearly a quarter (22%) are seculars. More than one-third never married (36%). Largest group residing in urban areas (42%) and in the western half the country (34%). Wealthiest Democratic group (41% earn at least $75,000).

Lifestyle Notes
Largest group to have been born (or whose parents were born) outside of the U.S. or Canada (20%). Least likely to report having a gun at home (23%) or attending bible study or prayer group meetings (13%).

2004 Election
Bush 2%, Kerry 81%

Party ID
59% Democrat; 40% Independent/No Preference, 1% Republican (92% Dem/Lean Dem)

Media Use
Liberals are second only to Enterprisers in following news about government and public affairs most of the time (60%). Liberals’ use of the internet to get news is the highest among all groups (37%).

Note: All descriptions and percentages are based on the national sample of adults surveyed by telephone in December. Based on your answers to the survey questions, you most closely resemble survey respondents within this group, even though you may differ significantly on one or more issues or traits.

In the overall typology there is a ninth group called “Bystanders” who are defined as adults who are not registered, who do not follow news about government and public affairs, and who say they rarely or never vote.

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I took the poll. Guess what? Liberal.
Even though I answered "Strongly Agree" to the statement, "Religion is extremely important in my daily life," they lumped me with the atheists and the agnostics.

Why? Because I'm against war and in favor of helping the poor.

I don't care whether I'm called liberal or something else, or who they group me with.

What I see is a skewed electorate. Religious people, especially Christians, must be ripe for the "liberal label stamp." There is no way a Christian, or any Abrahamic religious person, or a religious person of ANY stripe, to my knowledge, including Buddhist, Hindu, Zoroastrian, whatever -- can be in favor of a war-dominated foreign policy.

But until we stress conservation -- especially of oil and especially by developing renewable energy at home -- we will need to emphasize military-driven foreign policy and economics. Duh!

So it becomes obvious that Christians, Jews and Muslims (plead "the 6th" [Commandment]} favor environmentalism just to defuse the oil war and to help the poor. This goes without saying that the obvious reason religious people are environmentalists is stated in the Book of Genesis 2:15.

So, where does this leave the Pews? It looks like the Pew poll is saying that people of conscience -- whom they identify as liberals -- are currently politically divided from people with strong religious beliefs.

The Republicans have supplanted conscience (helping, conserving, protecting) with control (preventing, threatening). There is no way they can keep the majority, because religious people are ultimately not interested in coercing anybody to be virtuous. They are interested in virtue based on conscience.

So, the harvest is great but the laborers are few. John 3:35