New study: Many highly educated people mistakenly believe they’re left-wing

[JBeukema]

ScienceDaily (July 14, 2010) — A new study from the University of Leicester Department of Economics reveals that highly educated people make wrong assumptions about their political leanings -- they are more likely to think they are left wing when they are more likely to be relatively conservative.


The study suggests that some people may end up voting for left of centre parties because they hold the mistaken belief that they are left wing.
The research by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics, used data from the World Values Survey and described the opinions and characteristics of 136,000 individuals, in 82 countries, over a period of over 20 years.
His study, Who is Left-Wing, and Who Just Thinks They Are?, analysed whether people misperceive their relative ideological position by measuring on a scale from 1 to 10 what people think they are -- and measuring their opinion against a substantive issue ie how income should be divided

Political leanings: Who is 'left wing,' and who just thinks they are?

 

[Tank]

Becoming conservative is a sign of maturity.

 

[rightwinger]

Doesn't matter...they are still elitist and REAL Americans want nothing to do with them

 

[topspin]

I'm elitist proudly and don't need some junior researcher to tell me I'm conservative.

 

[editec]

ScienceDaily (July 14, 2010) — A new study from the University of Leicester Department of Economics reveals that highly educated people make wrong assumptions about their political leanings -- they are more likely to think they are left wing when they are more likely to be relatively conservative.


The study suggests that some people may end up voting for left of centre parties because they hold the mistaken belief that they are left wing.
The research by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics, used data from the World Values Survey and described the opinions and characteristics of 136,000 individuals, in 82 countries, over a period of over 20 years.
His study, Who is Left-Wing, and Who Just Thinks They Are?, analysed whether people misperceive their relative ideological position by measuring on a scale from 1 to 10 what people think they are -- and measuring their opinion against a substantive issue ie how income should be divided

Political leanings: Who is 'left wing,' and who just thinks they are?

Given how the rabid right defines "the left" as anyone who is not 100% on board with their POV, small wonder people are confused.

These terms are so abused that they no longer mean anything.

Yoy are the sum total of what you believe, so don't put yourself in a politically labeled box.

People use these terms because they too fucking lazy to think deeply about the issues at hand.

We see this goofy US v THEM nonsense every day on this board.

It's just plain old wrong, but it serves the MASTERS that so many of you people WANT to have enemies.

As long as you need that crutch, the MASTERS are going to insure that you have it.

Wake up. You are being lead around by your hateful noses, folks.

Meanwhile the two parties are stripping us all of our rights and fleecing us all of our ability to survive without their permission.

God I so sick of saying the same thing, but given the load of partisan blather posted here, it needs to be said over and over and over again.

Reh RNC is NOT you friends.

The DNC is NOT your friends.

They are not socialist they are not captialists

They are manipulating us with unfounded fears and by inappropriate appeals to our greed.

 

[geauxtohell]

You mean, someone's political leanings are more nuanced than discreet values?

I am shocked!

Not really. This used to be common knowledge, but two decades of talking heads who have conveniently lumped everyone that wasn't in 100% agree with them has muddied the waters.

As Chris Rock said: "On some things I am liberal and on some I am conservative."

 

[RDD_1210]

Becoming conservative is a sign of maturity.

Not if you base that on the behavior of people here.

 

[editec]

Becoming conservative is a sign of maturity.

Not if you base that on the behavior of people here.

Not at all.

Identifying yourself as a conservative or liberal means you need or want a herd to do your thinking for you.

I have never met an organization that I could completely agree with.

Maybe this is some character flaw in me, but it's one I thank (and curse) GOD for granting me.

 

[rdean]

The report was put together by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics.

A lecturer in Economics, which obviously makes him an "expert" on "scientists".

The truth is, considering what it means to be a conservative, it's very unlikely that more than a very few conservatives would be much of a scientist.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

The report was put together by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics.

A lecturer in Economics, which obviously makes him an "expert" on "scientists".

The truth is, considering what it means to be a conservative, it's very unlikely that more than a very few conservatives would be much of a scientist.

I think it just shows how much education is really worth, next to nothing. All it really does is confuse you about what you really believe, and you want to self identify as liberal, when the truth is you are not. Myabe this explains why only 6% of scientists say they are Republicans, they were the only ones who were able to overcome the brainwashing.

 

[Richard-H]

ScienceDaily (July 14, 2010) — A new study from the University of Leicester Department of Economics reveals that highly educated people make wrong assumptions about their political leanings -- they are more likely to think they are left wing when they are more likely to be relatively conservative.


The study suggests that some people may end up voting for left of centre parties because they hold the mistaken belief that they are left wing.
The research by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics, used data from the World Values Survey and described the opinions and characteristics of 136,000 individuals, in 82 countries, over a period of over 20 years.
His study, Who is Left-Wing, and Who Just Thinks They Are?, analysed whether people misperceive their relative ideological position by measuring on a scale from 1 to 10 what people think they are -- and measuring their opinion against a substantive issue ie how income should be divided

Political leanings: Who is 'left wing,' and who just thinks they are?

That article just cites assertions by one person. There's nothing that backs up these assertions. There's just about no information about the data that these assertions are based on.

Very poorly written at best.

 

[Charles_Main]

Becoming conservative is a sign of maturity.

Exactly If you have not become more conservative once you are 40ish. You are not paying attention at all.

Believe it or not when I was in my 20's I was a radical Liberal. I thought we should nuke Israel, I hated Reagan. The funny thing is I didn't have good reasons, I just thought I should.

Sound familiar.

As I grew up and actually learned about issues before having an opinion, I naturally moved to the right.

 

[Charles_Main]

The report was put together by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics.

A lecturer in Economics, which obviously makes him an "expert" on "scientists".

The truth is, considering what it means to be a conservative, it's very unlikely that more than a very few conservatives would be much of a scientist.

You are an idiot. You assume all Conservatives as ass backwards religious Nuts.

Sorry you assume wrong. Many of us today are simply wanting Fiscal Responsibility, and less intrusive federal Government. We just want the Government to do the Job given to it in the constitution, and stop reaching beyond that.

 

[Charles_Main]

Becoming conservative is a sign of maturity.

Not if you base that on the behavior of people here.

I have never met an organization that I could completely agree with.

.

Amen to that. I believe I said something like this just the other day on another thread.

Anyone who thinks any party or ideology has all the answers and is right about everything, and therefore the other ones are wrong about everything.

is a complete fool.

 

[Charles_Main]

I think the same can be said about many people who Identify as Conservative as well. Including myself. I call my self conservative, But I actually only line up with Conservative on certain Issues, I line up better with Libertarians on most Social Issues, and even agree with some Dem Ideas, Though it does seem to be less and less these days. A product of the lefts hijacking of that party IMO.

 

[Avorysuds]

I think it's things like God and the "show" of "giving a shit about other people" that make people think they are liberal. Two things that have nothing to do with politics but The dems sold themselves as the party that cares and the Party that is not run by God, despite the fact that they sell out to God just as much as a Republicans. Dems take from others to give a half ass hand out to others as a way of saying "we care".

When you look at things like how you would want to run a country and blah blah blah, yes, I think most people will end up conservative, not Bush Neoconservative because that's liberal with the "God runs us" part.

What part of conservative do liberals have a probablm with? none really... it's just the fakes like Bush they hate and they are right to not like them. Funny thing is Obama is near a clone of Bush, it would be hard to give handfull of diffrences between the two on what they HAVE DONE, not TALK ABOUT DOING.

War, HC, Immigration, SS, MCaide, MCare, Bail outs, Stimulus... Bush and Obama are almost 100% the same but Obama seems to be more extreame on most the issues than Bush was, that's all... Oddly, not one of the issus I listed did Bush or Obama take a true conservative stance on.

 

[rdean]

The report was put together by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics.

A lecturer in Economics, which obviously makes him an "expert" on "scientists".

The truth is, considering what it means to be a conservative, it's very unlikely that more than a very few conservatives would be much of a scientist.

I think it just shows how much education is really worth, next to nothing. All it really does is confuse you about what you really believe, and you want to self identify as liberal, when the truth is you are not. Myabe this explains why only 6% of scientists say they are Republicans, they were the only ones who were able to overcome the brainwashing.

Except in areas like:

Agriculture
Geology
Medicine
Architecture
Computers
Nuclear Subs
Nuclear power plants
Energy
Communications
Biology
Physiology
Botany
Aerospace
Engineering
Nanotechnology
Chemistry
Transporation

Except for those few things and a few I haven't thought of, those darn liberal scientists barely contribute, if not at all.

Now lets look at "conservative" contribution:

Churches
Mysticism
The Occult
Hate the gays
Bush
The ruined economy

And all without much of an "education".

That darned, worthless education.

 

[Avorysuds]

The report was put together by Dr James Rockey, a lecturer in Economics.

A lecturer in Economics, which obviously makes him an "expert" on "scientists".

The truth is, considering what it means to be a conservative, it's very unlikely that more than a very few conservatives would be much of a scientist.

I think it just shows how much education is really worth, next to nothing. All it really does is confuse you about what you really believe, and you want to self identify as liberal, when the truth is you are not. Myabe this explains why only 6% of scientists say they are Republicans, they were the only ones who were able to overcome the brainwashing.

Except in areas like:

Agriculture
Geology
Medicine
Architecture
Computers
Nuclear Subs
Nuclear power plants
Energy
Communications
Biology
Physiology
Botany
Aerospace
Engineering
Nanotechnology
Chemistry
Transporation

Except for those few things and a few I haven't thought of, those darn liberal scientists barely contribute, if not at all.

Now lets look at "conservative" contribution:

Churches
Mysticism
The Occult
Hate the gays
Bush
The ruined economy

And all without much of an "education".

That darned, worthless education.

See and that's what I meant by my post. You take Bush, a liberal that props God up and say he is is a conservative... Then you give us a list that you couldn't if your life depended on it prove that obama is any different on these issues. Yes Obama might say he is different but show us where he has changed or passed a law or anything effecting issues on Church, war, immigration, education, bail outs, HC, Hating gays and the ecconomy... You can't. Obama has only done what Bush did only on a whole new level. Why did Bush destroy the ecconomy but Obama does the SAME THING ONLY MORE and he is off the hook despite the ecconomy getting MUCH MUCH worse?

Actually, it was *more* free markets and conservative government (meaning lack of) that brought you the best your first list had to offer... It was Liberals and Necons like Bush,Clinton, Obama and so on that have destroyed and slowed it all down....

Agriculture
Geology
Medicine
Architecture
Computers
Nuclear Subs
Nuclear power plants
Energy
Communications
Biology
Physiology
Botany
Aerospace
Engineering
Nanotechnology
Chemistry
Transporation

That list...

 

[rdean]

I think it just shows how much education is really worth, next to nothing. All it really does is confuse you about what you really believe, and you want to self identify as liberal, when the truth is you are not. Myabe this explains why only 6% of scientists say they are Republicans, they were the only ones who were able to overcome the brainwashing.

Except in areas like:

Agriculture
Geology
Medicine
Architecture
Computers
Nuclear Subs
Nuclear power plants
Energy
Communications
Biology
Physiology
Botany
Aerospace
Engineering
Nanotechnology
Chemistry
Transporation

Except for those few things and a few I haven't thought of, those darn liberal scientists barely contribute, if not at all.

Now lets look at "conservative" contribution:

Churches
Mysticism
The Occult
Hate the gays
Bush
The ruined economy

And all without much of an "education".

That darned, worthless education.

See and that's what I meant by my post. You take Bush, a liberal that props God up and say he is is a conservative... Then you give us a list that you couldn't if your life depended on it prove that obama is any different on these issues. Yes Obama might say he is different but show us where he has changed or passed a law or anything effecting issues on Church, war, immigration, education, bail outs, HC, Hating gays and the ecconomy... You can't. Obama has only done what Bush did only on a whole new level. Why did Bush destroy the ecconomy but Obama does the SAME THING ONLY MORE and he is off the hook despite the ecconomy getting MUCH MUCH worse?

Actually, it was *more* free markets and conservative government (meaning lack of) that brought you the best your first list had to offer... It was Liberals and Necons like Bush,Clinton, Obama and so on that have destroyed and slowed it all down....

Agriculture
Geology
Medicine
Architecture
Computers
Nuclear Subs
Nuclear power plants
Energy
Communications
Biology
Physiology
Botany
Aerospace
Engineering
Nanotechnology
Chemistry
Transporation

That list...

Actually, it was *more* free markets and conservative government (meaning lack of) that brought you the best your first list had to offer...

Wrong - it was "science".

And the economy is worse now than when Obama took office?

It's possible that you may be a "nut".

 

[Quantum Windbag]

I think the same can be said about many people who Identify as Conservative as well. Including myself. I call my self conservative, But I actually only line up with Conservative on certain Issues, I line up better with Libertarians on most Social Issues, and even agree with some Dem Ideas, Though it does seem to be less and less these days. A product of the lefts hijacking of that party IMO.

That is the problem with labels, no one really fits all the definitions.