Very interesting and I agree with the vast majority of it.

Unfortunately libertarians aren't really represented in there. I would be interesting to see a chart like this that represents all major third parties; because the whole left/right thing is a false choice.

This is really broken too far down into what the parties represent at their cores.

Most Americans are neither left or right as this graphic depicts. The majority of America is slightly socially conservative but mostly moderate despite whatever party they identify with.

Thank you for perpetuating the false dichotomy that continues to drive wedges between the people of my fair country.

Sam; what exactly do you call moderate? In terms of policy I mean.

Moderate is a unit of comparison; whenever I hear someone say they are moderate; I usually just assume they are just not interested in politics enough to take a position.

Explain to me the policies of a moderate.

why the fuck would they make democrats red and republicans blue

too much confusion

The majority of Americans identify with parts of both ideologies of the diametrically opposed sides this graphic is dividing America into.

Outside of "Party" politics, Americans want free markets and the government to not interfere with their lively hood but at the same time they want Social Security and Medicare to be programs that provide a social safety net, they aren't opposed to the idea of welfare just the idea that welfare is a lifestyle. Well they may hold a view on abortion or gay marriage the extent that they really care about the legality of the issue is rather minimal since it doesn't effect their life for the most part.

Americans want stability not a polemic switch back and forth based on one parties ability to get elected. GWB got elected because Gore attached in the minds of many to the polarizing and debilitating impeachment of Clinton, and GWB wasn't seen as being that different from Clinton. Stability of government would exist without the polarizing debate of the previous administration many centrists thought, ultimately wrong.

America likes the middle of the road.

Loser:

Red has traditionally been associated with Communist and Socialist parties. The current association of red with Republicans is because of the red/blue selection that the networks made in the particular year that "red states" and "blue states" were thought of.

I notice that The Daily Kos has adopted a color theme of orange. I suspect that Progressives will select orange as their color when they put themselves forward as a separate political movement.

Yeah I tend to agree with you Sam. That is my view of most of America as well.

However I also sense the status quo is not sitting right with majority of Americans. Frankly; I think a lot of people are upset at the spending and the corruption in the current system.

Due to this fact; I've actually seen a bit of the polarization fade; most people I meet are fed up with both parties. I think the next few elections are very very important because of the growing resentment of both parties. I wouldn't be surprised to see third parties appear as powerful contenders in the next decade or two.

Currently the progressives are firmly in control of the democrat party. On the republican side I see the neo-cons and social conservatives as losing power while the libertarians are gaining power. My hope is that eventually the American people will get a clear choice of a Libertarian vs a Progressive. It's been far too long that elections have been Progressive vs Progressive-lite.

"America likes the middle of the road."


I would disagree, mostcountries that have been stable for the last 50 years "likes the middle of the road" , but in england, "the middle of the road" is far on the left on some issues, and on the right on others, it is more authotarian on some issues, and less on others.

in many european country the US centrist would be called right wing/far right wing.

also, 2 dimentions are to narrow, and the premisses is what leads to the conclusions, while political discussions are usually just a discussion about the conclusions

im left handed

More or less I agree dead, any disagreement is rather minute.

Americas middle of the road is pretty middle of the road besides being slightly more socially conservative than the rest of the "western" world. Despite my rather American centric view, in seeing the rest of the world I think my estimate is pretty accurate.

What is in the news and what our politicians argue about are far from what the majority of Americans really care about.