Americans Are Liberal. Who Knew?

Please note:  When you get to the link mentioned at the end of the article to the public opinion poll, please use the one that J.K. provided me with in his comments rather than the one mentioned in Yes's own article. J.K. says this one works better (and thanks to J.K. for sending it): http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?id=1859 .  

PUBLIC OPINION
Americans are Liberals. Who knew?

by Catherine Bailey

On a series of key domestic issues, Americans are much more progressive than one might think given today's political debates. Here are some of the polling results compiled by the Campaign for America's Future and Media Matters:

• In 2006, even before the release of Sicko, 69% of Americans said the federal government should provide health care for its citizens, up from 59% in 2000.
• When asked in February 2007 if they would pay an extra $500 a year so that all Americans could have health care, 82% said yes.
• Of those surveyed early this year, 79% want caps on carbon emissions, 84% favor higher environmental standards for business,and 86% would like more investment in solar and wind power.
• Support for energy conservation rose to 64% in 2007, up from 56% in 2001, while only 26% favor expanded energy production, down from 33%.
• Since 1972, belief that women should be equal to men in the workplace has risen from 47% to 78%.
• The belief that homosexuals should have equal job rights has risen from 55% to 89% since 1977.

The report covers a wide range of issues, including national defense, unions, immigration, and criminal justice. On issue after issue, the study shows that a majority of Americans are liberals.

Interested? Download the report at http://www.yesmagazine.orgcafmm/