Are the American people predominantly right wing or left?

[TheStinger]

When was the last time the Yanks actually declared war.

[MikeH]

People don't normally bother these days.

[Dauphin]

A quick search suggest these are the only times the US have formally declared war.

Great Britain June 18, 1812
Mexico May 13, 1846
Spain April 25, 1898
World War I Â Germany April 6, 1917
World War I Â Austria-Hungary December 7, 1917
World War II Â Japan December 8, 1941
World War II Â Germany December 11, 1941
World War II Â Italy December 11, 1941
World War II Â Bulgaria June 5, 1942
World War II Â Hungary June 5, 1942
World War II -- Rumania June 5, 1942


Source

http://www.house.gov/burton/RSC/DeclarationofWar.PDF

[TheStinger]

I thought Germany declared war on the US.

And Japan had made it quite clear what was happening

[Dauphin]

The US declarations against them were probably just a acknowledgements of a state of war.

[TheStinger]

I think its quite clear things aint wot they used to be.

The bit where Chamberlin tells everyone britain is at war is terriffic. It is quite chilling when you know what happens next

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Big Crunch
these are the only times the US have formally declared war.

We also declared was against Tripoli, IIRC in 1803.

I read that 55% of the American voters are non-minority working class (the so-called Reagan Democrats). Although they want liberal programs like free public education, quality health care, and secure retirement programs, they don't trust government's ability to provide them efficiently. As a result, these voters tend to line up behind the conservatives.

[Arrian]

@ BC. Good point. We've gotten into the habit of declaring war on things involve little (or no) opportunity for actual combat.

War on Poverty (Send in the marines, they'll kick the crap out of those poor people! Oh, wait, that's not it...)
War on Drugs (Gotta use all that Napalm on something, right? Might as well torch some fields in S. America).

War on Terror (at least there can be actual fighting in this "war").

-Arrian

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Lancer
We're tired of taking it and want to dish it out now.

Did you say that, or did Bin Laden? The US has dished it out overseas for decades. We just don't care other than the cheerleading "we done kicked their asses" part, as long as it happens in someone else's country.

[Edan]

I think the country (as an average of all views) in general tends to be moderately left wing (closer to centrist than left wing), but with a sizeable portion (say 30%) who are moderately flexible in the views(as opposed to the more partisan people on both sides.)

[GePap]

The country leans a bit right: I think 20% are hardcore conservatives, 10% hardcore liberals, and then 70% all over the place. The right is also better organized and can mobilize more voters. If one views religion as making us more conservative, well, Americans invoke God far more than anyone else at , or near, our level of industrilization.

As for why we are more 'right', I do think it is history,. but not WW2 ( I think Americans are fixated on WW2) after all, the biggest parties in Europe before WW1 were socialists, so it did not take the Horrors of WW2 to turn Europe leftward. The US grew up on the notion of the small "independent' farmer, and religion was always important. After all, the only strong socialist moveemnt ever in the US (turn of century) was mostly Christian socialist.

[Dinner]

The country is very centrist however places such as Europe are much further left of center so they run around calling us rightists.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
We also declared was against Tripoli, IIRC in 1803.

Jefferson made a "police action" (and you folks thought Truman or Johnson made up that phrase) against the barbary pirates. No war was declared.

[Lancer]

"How can you possibly have a war against terrorism?"-St Leo

Terrorist training camps...take out countries that allow terrorists to train in their borders. Make them responsible for their actions.

"The US has dished it out overseas for decades. We just don't care other than the cheerleading "we done kicked their asses" part, as long as it happens in someone else's country."-MtG

Yeah, it's a war, declared in New York.

[Sava]

I believe there are an equal amount of righties/lefties; but I also think that 60% or more of the country are ignorant sheep that believe everything the TV tells them.