It is common these days for conservatives to be labeled “extremist” by liberals. In fact, Gallup data shows that 42% of U.S. adults identify as “conservative” while a mere 21% identify as liberal. The percentage of conservatives has actually grown by 2% since 2008 and the percentage of liberals has decreased by 1%.
Bottom line: this country is currently being governed by a presidential administration whose views and policies represent a mere one out of five U.S. adults.
The Gallup data also contains some fascinating details about the makeup of today’s Democratic Party. Gallup’s analysis includes this:
1. Perhaps the most significant change in the composition of Democrats between 2008 and today is the two-point increase, from 35% to 37%, in the percentage describing their political views as “liberal.” This occurred at a time when the country as a whole became slightly more conservative, thus expanding the political gap between Democrats and the rest of the U.S.
The change coincides with the decline in Democratic affiliation in recent years, and it may be that moderate or conservative Americans were less well-attached to the Democratic Party and were the first to shift their allegiance — thus leaving a higher concentration of political liberals among those who continue to align with the party.
