By The Pew Research center had some interesting findings on the things that 90% of Americans agree upon.
These days there appears to be almost nothing that all, or nearly all, Americans can agree on. But this week, fully 90% of the public said that they were hearing mostly bad news about gas prices. [Pew Research Center]
Personally I have a hard time getting worked up about gas prices considering the amount of time I have spent living abroad and seeing how much other nations pay for gas, but I can understand how the rise in prices is hurting the bottom line of businesses.
However, this what I found most interesting from the Pew article:
Yet there are some opinions that 90% of the public, or close to it, shares — including a belief that citizens have a duty to vote, an admiration for those who get rich through hard work, a strong sense of patriotism and a belief that society should give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed. Pew Research’s political values surveys have shown that these attitudes have remained remarkably consistent over time. (Pew Research has been tracking political values for more than two decades; for the most recent political values survey in 2009,
Wait a minute aren’t we all supposed to hate rich people now a days like Michael Moore wants us to do?
11:41 pm on March 15th, 2011 1
Well, we all hate Michael Moore… does that count?
Seriously though, I think 90% of Americans want the government to be there as a foundation, not as a brick wall. We want freedom to live as we choose, not a set of rules we must obey. And nobody likes a hand in their wallet.
We disagree on what freedom means, at times. But the worst part is when we start dictating to each other how we are to live. That's a shortcut to Perdition…
I'm not against everyone having a say. I'm against someone else telling me what to say when it's supposed to be my turn. And I'm against _me_ telling other people what they MUST do. We're all entitled to suggest to people what we think is the best way. As long as we're polite about it…
There are pockets of people here and there who are willing to live off the generosity or gullibility of others while not working for themselves. I wouldn't call them Americans. I'd call them parasites. YMMV.
11:59 pm on March 15th, 2011 2
It just proves my theory. Americans like to preach and be all moral, but when it comes to doing what they preach, that's another story.
12:05 am on March 16th, 2011 3
"fully 90% of the public said that they were hearing mostly bad news about gas prices."
…and fully 10% are deaf and dumb and live in a cave?
12:51 am on March 16th, 2011 4
What is this world coming to when a rich person tries to help those less well off? I don't think Moore is trying to hide anything nor is he refusing to pay his fair share, in fact if I'm not mistaken he is more than willing to pay higher taxes. Why go after Moore, maybe his idea of rich is different than yours. I doubt Moore is worse off morally than those depicted in 'Inside Job' so why don't you go after those bloodsuckers?
1:02 am on March 16th, 2011 5
Tbonetylr, Moore isn't trying to help anyone but himself. Don't pretend to be that naive.
If he hates capitalism, let him donate all of his money to the poor. Or the government. And stop selling stuff.
1:26 am on March 16th, 2011 6
I knew this poll was flawed or most people were just trying to make themselves look good to the pollster when I read 88% of Americans said they "are interest in keeping up with national affairs." No one can convince me that's true, especially when so few Americans even bother to vote.
If the real point of presenting this is to say something about class warfare, let me just say this:
There is a double standard when the blame for the country's financial problems have suddenly shifted to middle class/working class people. Teachers and pensioners? Really?
The same people, who rightly point out that some unions make it difficult to get rid of unqualified or under-performing employees, will throw a fit when someone points out there are people on the other end of the spectrum who ran their companies into near bankruptcy, were bailed out by the tax payers and are now reaping multi-million dollar bonuses.
One side protects incompetence, but the other side rewards it.
1:39 am on March 16th, 2011 7
JoeC, those are people on the same side of the spectrum, regardless of the political party lapel pin they wear…
1:47 am on March 16th, 2011 8
Setnaffa #1,
You wrote: "We want freedom to live as we choose, not a set of rules we must obey. And nobody likes a hand in their wallet."
I agree with you about the hand in the wallet, whether it's providing welfare to a perfectly healthy individual or an inept corporation. But we all have rules to "obey". The most primitive tribe in New Guinea has rules. People have the right to choose. But your choice will determine the consequences.
You also wrote: "There are pockets of people here and there who are willing to live off the generosity or gullibility of others while not working for themselves. I wouldn’t call them Americans. I’d call them parasites."
Absolutely. Once again, whether it's some person who games the system so they can float through life on my dime, or some corporate bailout.
4:01 am on March 16th, 2011 9
We can all agree that we know better than that other guy that said he knew what he was talking about.
We can all agree that what women want and what men want isn't the same thing. And the other one is wrong.
4:04 am on March 16th, 2011 10
Oh and Now is not a good time for Obama to go to Rio. But he is going. Didn't he vote "Present" quite often as a Senator.
4:15 am on March 16th, 2011 11
Retired GI figured it out. It's the other guys who are messed up, not us.
6:30 am on March 16th, 2011 12
#11 It's the Army experience for 20 years enlisted. Nothing like watching 30 NCOs try to figure out how to put up a GP medium tent. 30 different ideas on how to do such a simple task. No matter which one you talked to, the other 29 were wrong. Took longer for them to agree on one method, than to actually put it up. I was one of those NCOs. (I like to say Sergeant, but so few remember what a Sergeant is supposed to be that I quit)(What retard brags about not having a Commission anyway?) I just took a seat and laughed at the rest on them. They did NOT need yet another Idea. I'm sure none of those PVT or PFCs ever re-upped after seeing that mess.
8:55 am on March 16th, 2011 13
http://reason.com/archives/2011/03/14/the-loughne…
Not always the other guys; but in this case…
9:56 am on March 16th, 2011 14
And how many shots would he have gotten off if they all were armed?
If we had "open carry" would he have even tried?
The Big Bad Wolf is out there. He OR she looks much as we do.
Our civilization is not civilized. Nor will it be for hundreds of years, if ever.
That fact may be a sad fact, but it is still a fact.
9:54 pm on March 16th, 2011 15
I think a hundred years is a little optimistic. It's getting worse, not better. That's why I never go out without a gun, a Swiss Army knife, a Spyderco, and a cloth handkerchief. Those things will take care of about 80% of all big or little problems you might encounter. Thankfully, I've never had to use the gun and hope I never do. But if you like guns or not, it's a personal decision.
10:00 pm on March 16th, 2011 16
"It just proves my theory. Americans like to preach and be all moral, but when it comes to doing what they preach, that’s another story."
Even more so when Americans who are Korean are taken into account, eh Tom? Those Americans are the worst when it comes to that. Right Tom?
Koreans are perfect in regard to moral high ground stuff, they've proven it so many times. I mean, just when it comes to accepting refugees alone, Korea beats America and all other nations hands down for sure!
This is also true with providing aid and help to other countries as well. Korea is always first in and last out compared to America and other countries.
Koreans are the first to jump at the chance to donate to other nations in need. Take into donations made to Haiti a while back. Koreans donated the most.
Yes, Koreans are morally superior to all others and their deeds, especially in regard to Haiti, prove it.
Ask Tom to give you more details, he can provide stats and details about these and other topics.
Korea is a gift to the world that just keeps giving, they are totally selfless.
10:11 pm on March 16th, 2011 17
^ angry white guy. lol. Look at the black smoke spewing from his head. lol.
11:00 pm on March 16th, 2011 18
Tom's cousin in UCLA…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOGpGoEMu2s
6:55 pm on March 17th, 2011 19
Its my belief that people tend to confuse the extremely vocal minority with the silent majority. What we have is a majority of folk who enjoy freedom and are moderates. What we also have is a very small minority of people who will stand up and yell / scream and dictate to everyone else what they ~should~ do and so forth.
11:57 pm on March 17th, 2011 20
#18 TomTom —-THAT made me smile
12:00 am on March 18th, 2011 21
It would seem that a growing number agree on this:
htt://www.express.co.uk/post/view/235196/Barrack-Obama-The-Weakest-President-in-history-
12:10 am on March 18th, 2011 22
Someotherguy #19: Absolutely true.
9:15 am on March 29th, 2011 23
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