Is America really polarised?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

[Democratic Hawk]

From those maps, you can summise that Americans have a passion for ticket-splitting. The South is much more Democratic at state level than at the federal level these days

Interesting maps , none the less

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

I suppose candidate specific-factors and differentials in turnout could also explain why things as they are

Dave

[MODU]

America is only as polarised as they allow politicians to make them.  Most of Americans are moderates/centrists, but find themselves falling for the various party rhetorics since they do not have time themselves to be overly involved with the national issues.  A perfect example of how non-polarized we are is by looking at the mood of the US in Oct of 2001.  Partisanship in Congress was at an all-time low, and those who did bark out were quickly viewed as being out of touch.  However, we got back to our normal lives, and the partisanship picked back up.

[bullmoose88]

America is only as polarised as they allow politicians to make them.  Most of Americans are moderates/centrists, but find themselves falling for the various party rhetorics since they do not have time themselves to be overly involved with the national issues.  A perfect example of how non-polarized we are is by looking at the mood of the US in Oct of 2001.  Partisanship in Congress was at an all-time low, and those who did bark out were quickly viewed as being out of touch.  However, we got back to our normal lives, and the partisanship picked back up.

I generally agree, problem is, most of the non extremists are evenly divided between the two big parties and don't show up and vote on primary day.

The far left and far right, on the other hand, do which leads to more partisan and more extreme candidates being elected from either party.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Local races are less polarized.
The districts are different.

Based upon the 1972-2004, I made two analytical polarization indexes.

Index 1 : Percentage of Democrats voting Democrat for President + Percentage of Republicans voting Republicans for President

1972. 157
1976. 167
1980. 153
1984. 166
1988. 173
1992. 150
1996. 164
2000. 177
2004. 182

Index 2:  Percentage of people voting Democrat in Congress voting Democrat for President + Percentage of people voting Republican in Congress voting Republican for President

1976. 162
1980. 152
1984. 169
1988. 154
1992. 146
1996. 160
2000. 171
2004. 179

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20041107_px_ELECTORATE.xls


Both of these have 2004 the highest, followed by 2000. 1996 was much more average. Bush has polarized America. You are a fool if you think otherwise.

[dazzleman]

Local races are less polarized.
The districts are different.

Based upon the 1972-2004, I made two analytical polarization indexes.

Index 1 : Percentage of Democrats voting Democrat for President + Percentage of Republicans voting Republicans for President

1972. 157
1976. 167
1980. 153
1984. 166
1988. 173
1992. 150
1996. 164
2000. 177
2004. 182

Index 2:  Percentage of people voting Democrat in Congress voting Democrat for President + Percentage of people voting Republican in Congress voting Republican for President

1976. 162
1980. 152
1984. 169
1988. 154
1992. 146
1996. 160
2000. 171
2004. 179

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20041107_px_ELECTORATE.xls


Both of these have 2004 the highest, followed by 2000. 1996 was much more average. Bush has polarized America. You are a fool if you think otherwise.

So let me get this straight -- Bush polarized America in 2000 before he even made it to the White House.  Brilliant analysis, not at all skewed by your own personal views.

[MODU]

Both of these have 2004 the highest, followed by 2000. 1996 was much more average. Bush has polarized America. You are a fool if you think otherwise.

So let me get this straight -- Bush polarized America in 2000 before he even made it to the White House.  Brilliant analysis, not at all skewed by your own personal views.

I believe the election, and the following court cases, polarized America in that sense.  It wasn't the candidates (except for the fact they were both average candidates, causing the vote to be split).

[CARLHAYDEN]

It really depends upon how an election is framed.

If one side takes an extreme position, they will antagonize the swing voters.

Today, with collectivist economics having been totally descredited, the issues which differentiate the candidates/parties are predominatly social issues, with national defense issues also being important.

Consider the following examples:

Abortion:

Candidate A says its a woman's choice, with NO restrictions.

Candidate B says ban ALL abortions.

Candidate C says abortion legal in some cases, regulated (or prohibited) in others.

Guess which candidate is supported by most of the voters?

Generally, Democrat Congressional candidates have taken the position of candidate A, while Republican Congressional candidates have taken the position of candidate C.

I can give a number of other examples, but they follow the same trend.

[dazzleman]

Both of these have 2004 the highest, followed by 2000. 1996 was much more average. Bush has polarized America. You are a fool if you think otherwise.

So let me get this straight -- Bush polarized America in 2000 before he even made it to the White House.  Brilliant analysis, not at all skewed by your own personal views.

I believe the election, and the following court cases, polarized America in that sense.  It wasn't the candidates (except for the fact they were both average candidates, causing the vote to be split).

True.  But none of that affected the vote, since the vote was cast before it was known any of that would happen.

[MODU]

Both of these have 2004 the highest, followed by 2000. 1996 was much more average. Bush has polarized America. You are a fool if you think otherwise.

So let me get this straight -- Bush polarized America in 2000 before he even made it to the White House.  Brilliant analysis, not at all skewed by your own personal views.

I believe the election, and the following court cases, polarized America in that sense.  It wasn't the candidates (except for the fact they were both average candidates, causing the vote to be split).

True.  But none of that affected the vote, since the vote was cast before it was known any of that would happen.

That's why I had indicated that both candidates were average, so it didn't draw a vast number of moderates to one side or the other.

[Jake]

Where did you get those maps from?

[Bono]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

[AkSaber]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

^^^^^^^

Very nice maps!!!

[KillerPollo]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiii do not count! thay dont even have counties.

[KEmperor]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiii do not count! thay dont even have counties.

Once again, you are wrong.  Hawaii does have counties.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

I made a map of the TN Senate and house districts - I'll dig it up so we won't be left out

[Bono]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiii do not count! thay dont even have counties.

Once again, you are wrong.  Hawaii does have counties.

And Alaska has boroughs and census divisions.
Besides, it has state and house districts.

[MaC]

Bush has polarized America. You are a fool if you think otherwise.

Well, it's not a strawman, but it is another fallacy...   

[CARLHAYDEN]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiii do not count! thay dont even have counties.

Once again, you are wrong.  Hawaii does have counties.

True!

Moreover, Hawaii has a county where there are never any votes counted for President!

[Max Power]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiii do not count! thay dont even have counties.

Once again, you are wrong.  Hawaii does have counties.

True!

Moreover, Hawaii has a county where there are never any votes counted for President!

Isn't that county also the smallest in the country? Because I heard they have only something like 64 people in it.

[Bono]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiii do not count! thay dont even have counties.

Once again, you are wrong.  Hawaii does have counties.

True!

Moreover, Hawaii has a county where there are never any votes counted for President!

Isn't that county also the smallest in the country? Because I heard they have only something like 64 people in it.

It's a lepper colony.
and it's not really a county anymore IIRC.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Where did you get those maps from?

More important, where are alaska and hawaii.

Alaska and Hawaiii do not count! thay dont even have counties.

Once again, you are wrong.  Hawaii does have counties.

True!

Moreover, Hawaii has a county where there are never any votes counted for President!

Isn't that county also the smallest in the country? Because I heard they have only something like 64 people in it.

It's a lepper colony.
and it's not really a county anymore IIRC.

Legally it is a county.  However, it has (I believe) only two officers.

[TomC]

I made a map of the TN Senate and house districts - I'll dig it up so we won't be left out

Cool. Just so others know- our Senate is 17-16 Repub (or actually I guess it's 17-15 since Ford resigned, but that's a Dem seat) and our house is 54-45 Dem.

[Gabu]

Bush has polarized America. You are a fool if you think otherwise.

Well, it's not a strawman, but it is another fallacy...   

Now say which it is, as your midterm exam in Spotting Fallacies 101.