When deciding a issue, is it based on the merits or party label? Answer revealed!

[Torie]

If presented with two plans to address an issue, the details of which are described, in deciding which plan one likes best, what is more important as to how and why people make a decision, the actual content of the plans, or the political party label that is ascribed to each plan?  What do you think makes people tick on this one? The poll is about what you think folks out there do, not what you would do.

After the poll has been up awhile, I will offer up some data on this matter.

[Ban my account ffs!]

The only time I go with party label is if the issue is literally about the party label or the issue is so asinine that I'm willing to let Debbie Wasserman Schultz decide for me.  And that never happens.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I never make my decision on an issue based on a party label, but I imagine it's fairly common among the overall populace given the degree of political apathy there is in America.

[Likely Voter]

obviously party label, based on the notion that this poll is about how the public at large view things.

[DemPGH]

Because we only have two major parties, I don't think the two are necessarily mutually exclusive. Having said that, definitely the merits. There are certainly times when I disagree with the Democrats and wish we had a third or fourth plan/platform option to address the issues that we have. I rarely agree with the Republicans on much of anything, though.

[TDAS04]

I decide based on the merits of the issue, but I tend to agree with one of the two major parties on the issues much of the time.  If you don't know what the issue is, but you know with side supports it, chances are it's a good indication whether you agree with it or not.

[Mercenary]

I think most people tend to vote based on party labels rather than the issue.
It also explains how so many people essentially think inside a box rather than have a more complex diversity of views. People are fed what to believe from some source or another.

Sure some people may look at the merits and just happen to align 90%+ with a party, but I don't think that is the case with most people. We'd probably see a lot more diversity of thought if people ignored political labels.

[ElectionsGuy]

For most of the 20th century, I would say the merits. Today however, it is almost certainly a majority that will not budge from party lines and will not consider anyone else who doesn't fit with their mindset.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The merits, of course. But it's incredibly rare that there's any time that the Republicans are better. I guess more tried to fillibuster fast track.

[bore]

Do you prefer kittens or murder?

[muon2]

When I talk to people about an issue that hasn't been in the media recently as a political issue, I find most people will look at the merits. However, once the issue has become political, the merits take a back seat to the partisan result. Even though more people claim independent status, fewer people are really tracking an independent line. More common are self-proclaimed independents who usually take a consistent partisan position but have infrequent crossover votes to the other side.

As an aside, I would note that party label matters more among Atlas posters than they might realize. For example, in polls about where one would rather live, items like cost of living and job prospects rarely surface in comments. However, political policies of the location in question frequently do. That's contrary to what drives most relocation, but not so surprising among a group interested enough in politics to post here.

[Torie]

When I talk to people about an issue that hasn't been in the media recently as a political issue, I find most people will look at the merits. However, once the issue has become political, the merits take a back seat to the partisan result. Even though more people claim independent status, fewer people are really tracking an independent line. More common are self-proclaimed independents who usually take a consistent partisan position but have infrequent crossover votes to the other side.

As an aside, I would note that party label matters more among Atlas posters than they might realize. For example, in polls about where one would rather live, items like cost of living and job prospects rarely surface in comments. However, political policies of the location in question frequently do. That's contrary to what drives most relocation, but not so surprising among a group interested enough in politics to post here.

I'm happiest living among a bunch of Democrats myself - always have.

[All Along The Watchtower]

I find a lot of so-called "Independents" insufferable, but that's based on the merits.

[publicunofficial]

I know some people, when faced with a more nuanced and complicated issue (Charter schools, for example), will wait and see which party takes the "pro" side and which party takes the "against" side.

It's not always "I support this issue because my party does" either. Half the time it's something along the lines of "I'm against this issue, because anything the ____ party supports CAN'T be good for me"

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Those who voted "party" are at least being honest

[Torie]

Those who voted "party" are at least being honest

The cynicism of the grumpy incorrigible out of shape old man is in this case justified, at least per this study. It is probably fairer to say, that most voters on most issues, are hardly experts on them, and thus when in doubt rely on the party label as a short cut to answering a question, where they really have no set opinion on the merits.

So Grumps and 10 others were "right" as to the poll question as of the time of this post, and 29 of you were wrong, you idealists you.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Shocker!

[Mr. Smith]

Shocker!

[Ban my account ffs!]

Those who voted "party" are at least being honest

If you vote...

But most Americans would say option two and then wait in line so they could feel self satisfied by performing option one.  Because that's what they get.  A choice between a poopy flavored popsicle and a crunchy turd tempura set.