Are the American people predominantly right wing or left?

[Lancer]

The US just took Iraq, in some polls 70% of the people approved of the action. Mostly it was the left that opposed. On the other side, Gore won the popular vote, slim margin, but still.

So, which are we?

[Jaguar]

We're right. We have Republican majorities everywhere, and even our democrats are further right than most Euros.

[Dis]

Well before this Iraq situation and 9/11 I always felt people were more leftist. If they weren't leftist they had no problem electing leftists.

It is possible that after 9/11 there has been a political shift in the U.S., which I think may be true. As 9/11 has shifted my political views as well. I was a leftist before 9/11. Perhaps if we ever get another strong leftist leader I will become one again. But right now their leadership is very weak.

I also felt that after the election debacle in 2000 that we would not have a republican president for at least 12 years. I am certain I was wrong about that. In fact we may not have a democratic president for 10 years. Bush's first 8 months in office were looking pretty weak...Although his domestic policy is still fairly weak...we'll see

But it seemed obvious to me people support social programs. although perhaps the shift occurred earlier in the 90's with welfare reform. Those stories of welfare corruption in the 90's sure got my attention- and disgusted me.

[Lancer]

JW, the euros being left of our left is one of the things I'm looking for here. If the euros think we are a bunch of right wing wackos, all of us both left and right, then what an amazing phenomina. If true, how the heck did the situation come about?

[Dis]

because the europeans became more leftists.

american democrats have had to shift their policies to be more moderate to get elected. But the republicans have had to do the same thing. They don't dare cut social programs in order to get re-elected. Hence why they run up a huge debt.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Lancer
JW, the euros being left of our left is one of the things I'm looking for here. If the euros think we are a bunch of right wing wackos, all of us both left and right, then what an amazing phenomina. If true, how the heck did the situation come about?

World War II, in a nutshell.

1. Here in America, us middle class and above people feel we're pretty stable. We don't really believe something bad will ever make us homeless or anything. Hence we don't believe we'll need the governments help, so we don't want to give our money to the government. In Europe, people who had felt that they were "safe" suddenly got displaced from their homes by the millions when the war started.

2. World War II wreaked havoc on the great cities of Europe. Not a single bomb touched the contiguous 48 US states, which made up over 99% of the total American population during WWII. This is why Europeans are more afraid of war.

3. We have never experienced a truly awful right wing government anywhere close to home. Europe has had several. Hence they're likely to shy away from rightist views that remind them of the 20th century fascists. Meanwhile, our biggest fear for most of the past century has been evil left wing governments. We're likely to shy away from things that remind us of the evil Soviets.

[Stefu]

Rightist, of course.

[Urban Ranger]

Center-right, on the US scale. Right, on the international scale.

[Lancer]

Dissident, this is a rich country, jobs are everywhere. Handing out money here is just absurd.

I agree that 9/11 changed things. However Clinton COULD have led a war against terrorism, SHOULD have led a war against terrorism, but didn't. People don't forgive weakness in a president. Now, with Bush, we're catching and killing the terrorists that attacked us during the Clinton years. That's not lost on people. Except here at Poly where there are so many leftists, most of America is damn glad we have a president that doesn't blink. We're tired of taking it and want to dish it out now. That's why we'll see repubs in charge for a while. If Bush had wimped out like Clinton, the US would be in very sad shape right now. The most powerful powerless country in the world. BUT! The fight is on, the right is leading it, and likely will be for quite a while.

Long winded, but basicly I agree w/ you.

[Lancer]

JW, good points. They should have been impacted by the Soviets as well. However I was there, and they really just ignored them. Totally irresponsible! The US held the line for them. I'd be embarrassed.

Btw, 2 Japanese balloon bombs landed in Oregon. We're still recovering from that.

[Jaguar]

You don't wanna mess with the balloon bomb.

[Lancer]

Bizarre form of warfare!

[Dis]

I agree with your post for the most part. But it is tough to say what Clinton would have done after 9/11. Remember Bush did nothing to address the terrorist problem for the first 8 months of his presidency. And that wasn't long after the Cole bombing. But I just can't see Clinton taking part in the overthrow of the Taliban. I would expect him to have made a more diplomatic effort combined with precision strikes.

[Lancer]

Yeah, like SK. Very diplomatic, totally useless.

[MikeH]

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior

World War II, in a nutshell.

1. Here in America, us middle class and above people feel we're pretty stable. We don't really believe something bad will ever make us homeless or anything. Hence we don't believe we'll need the governments help, so we don't want to give our money to the government. In Europe, people who had felt that they were "safe" suddenly got displaced from their homes by the millions when the war started.

2. World War II wreaked havoc on the great cities of Europe. Not a single bomb touched the contiguous 48 US states, which made up over 99% of the total American population during WWII. This is why Europeans are more afraid of war.

3. We have never experienced a truly awful right wing government anywhere close to home. Europe has had several. Hence they're likely to shy away from rightist views that remind them of the 20th century fascists. Meanwhile, our biggest fear for most of the past century has been evil left wing governments. We're likely to shy away from things that remind us of the evil Soviets.

Good post.