General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLiberals Don't Vote
The gap between rhetoric about income inequality and action to deal with it is sizable. There are many reasons for that, but one possible explanation, according to a provocative new book, is the contrasting views of Americans who vote and those who do not.
The book is titled Who Votes Now? Demographics, Issues, Inequality, and Turnout in the United States. The authors are two political scientists, Jan E. Leighley of American University and Jonathan Nagler of New York University.
Who Votes Now? is a thoroughgoing examination of voter turnout patterns from 1972 through 2008 and offers much to chew on. But its most important finding, the authors say, is that, on crucial questions about economic policy and redistribution, those who vote do not represent the views of those who do not vote.
Voters are significantly more conservative than nonvoters on redistributive issues and have been in every election since 1972, they write. Voters may be more liberal than nonvoters on social issues, but on redistributive issues, they are not. These redistributive issues define a fundamental relationship between citizens and the state . . . and are central to ongoing conflicts about the scope of government. It is on these issues that voters offer a biased voice of the preferences of the electorate.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/politics/what-voter-turnout-means-for-efforts-to-remedy-income-inequality/2014/01/04/dbf6cb4c-7551-11e3-bc6b-712d770c3715_story.html?tid=HP_politics
daleanime
(17,796 posts)but liberals have to choose who to vote against?
Laelth
(32,017 posts)That's certainly what Truman argued:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman
-Laelth
1000words
(7,051 posts)And the very first post, to boot.
Well done.
XRubicon
(2,212 posts)I think we do need better candidates.
Bobbie Jo
(14,341 posts)Candidates tend to appeal to the those who are likely to get off their behinds and vote.
This is a no-brainer.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)of no-brainer is apparently different from mine. Do you actually support liberal candidates, or do you just play one on DU?
Bobbie Jo
(14,341 posts)the holier than thou card here, I gave up the need to defend my liberal creds a long time ago.
Pointless pissing match, lather, rinse, repeat.....
Aerows
(39,961 posts)politics are all pissing matches .
Perfect analogy.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)LOL
Air kisses..
Fair enough.
Well at least you're not telling me to kiss your ass.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)and face kissing, either!
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I see what you did there
pampango
(24,692 posts)largely because they are voting against Democratic candidates. Conservatives them go after their RINO's in the next primary election.
polichick
(37,152 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)If you "see their point on several issues", you should be in that party, dragging them back toward sanity, not in this one pushing bad ideas.
XRubicon
(2,212 posts)Always.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)are MSM TV watchers and who are extremely ignorant of history and present day politics as well.
If these people took a citizenship test, they would fail miserably.
Roselma
(540 posts)Conservatives do believe in exercising their right to vote. They show up at mid-terms more reliably than "independents" and people who call themselves, "liberal". That is why 2010 was such an incredible victory against the Democrats and the president. For some reason, "independents" and "liberals" are not interested in voting in EVERY election. Too bad, because I think that there are more "independents" and "liberals" than there are conservatives overall.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Nothing worse than seeing RWing talking points on DU.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)all three States had all manner of Democratic victories. The President, of course, was not on any ballot in 2010. Republicans did not take the Senate, they gained some House seats but lost in terms of total votes cast. How is that 'incredible' when the Party not in the WH almost always gains some House seats in a midterm?
The other more liberal States also had better turnout, the more liberal the voters, the better the turnout, particularly where the candidates and issues were worthy.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)I AM a liberal and haven't missed a vote in 42 years. You don't know what the fuck you are talking about. Take your crap rightie barf back to Freeperville where it belongs, amongst the derps.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)Even when I had a choice between a shit sandwich with mustard, or a shit sandwich with ketchup.
Rex
(65,616 posts)nt
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Old folks are more likely to vote ,especially in mid terms. The young tend to be more liberal but are not as likely to show up and vote.
spanone
(135,830 posts)n/t
wandy
(3,539 posts)All you need do is take one look at who the Teapublicans hold in high esteem.
Here.
http://amac.us/top-10-conservatives-2013
You can get a good idea who the winners of the next Teapublican Clown Car Demolition Derby might be.
You can bet Teapublicans will vote for whoever they are told to vote for.
ProgressSaves
(123 posts)It's not a perfect strategy, but it's all we've got.