Gallup: On Social Ideology, the Left Catches Up to the Right
http://www.gallup.com/poll/183386/social-ideology-left-catches-right.aspx
What caused this?
Will it continue?
Is this a good thing?
Opinions?
|
3
points
The main causes of a slow drift to the liberal social definition is centered around abortion, gay marriage and religion. With these three issues being more in the public eye than in decades past, the apparent trend may be simply more clearly showing opinion that had not been formed as before the issues were brought into societies consideration. Abortion has long been considered as it relates to religion. As religion becomes less dominant in the discussion, the true issues become more the topic. Religion has prevented serious examination of gay rights in the past. As new understanding of homosexuality emerges, attitudes have changed. As a political and economic conservative, I am not as concerned as I would be if these numbers were changing. To my view, social ideologies are driven by society rather than directly from government. Conversely government itself seems to be the driver of political and economic issues, while "the people" seem less in control. These social changes will continue. Good or not good is too issue specific to make a broad statement about. Moral decline is not generally tied to religion. 1
point
The main causes of a slow drift to the liberal social definition is centered around abortion, gay marriage and religion. With these three issues being more in the public eye than in decades past, the apparent trend may be simply more clearly showing opinion that had not been formed as before the issues were brought into societies consideration. All three of those issues have existed, to one degree or another, for at least a hundred years (if you replace "gay marriage" with homosexuality, which you might as well do). Abortion has long been considered as it relates to religion. As religion becomes less dominant in the discussion, the true issues become more the topic. Religion has prevented serious examination of gay rights in the past. As new understanding of homosexuality emerges, attitudes have changed. A lack of religious affiliation is not sufficient to explain this trend, as the vast majority of those on the social Left are still Christian. Good or not good is too issue specific to make a broad statement about. Moral decline is not generally tied to religion. Moral decline? Come now, let's not go down that ridiculous road, please. You might find it to be a moral decline, others find it a moral incline. All three of those issues have existed, to one degree or another, for at least a hundred years (if you replace "gay marriage" with homosexuality, which you might as well do). In the dim past, when I was young, gays did not march in the streets demanding equal rights. In the time of my parents, abortion was an unacceptable option unless the mother would not survive the pregnancy. Atheism is growing in America. These three ideas embody current social liberal ideology. A lack of religious affiliation is not sufficient to explain this trend, as the vast majority of those on the social Left are still Christian. Are you contending that the Pope or Billy Graham have changed their positions on abortion and gay marriage? Not so. Moral decline? Come now, let's not go down that ridiculous road, please. You might find it to be a moral decline, others find it a moral incline. Today many believe that its OK to have an abortion. Today many believe that gay marriage is acceptable. Today there is much less stigma associated with atheism. Right or wrong, good or bad, this is a shift in social standards. The shift is away from the standards of our previous generations. What was considered amoral is now thought to be moral. From any perspective this is a lessened standard. |
