The More in Common project has just released the results of its latest deep dive into American polarization, and they make for a deeply discouraging read. It turns out that most Americans have fundamentally mistaken notions about their political opponents, consistently believing that they are substantially more extreme than they really are.
Democrats are far less likely to support open borders, far more likely to support private ownership of firearms, and far more friendly to police than Republicans believe they are.
Spend nine seconds on Google, and you can find depressing studies that show "More than half of Americans can't name a single Supreme Court justice" or more Americans know that Randy Jackson was a judge on American Idol than know John Roberts is the chief justice of the United States.
The More in Common survey is different, and disturbing: It shows that political ignorance about the opposing party is driven by America's most engaged and most highly educated citizens.
In other words, the more you pay attention to political media, the less likely you are to understand the true beliefs of your political opponents.
Better-educated Republicans don't gain materially improved understanding of Democrats, while Democrats' knowledge of Republican beliefs "Actually gets worse with every additional degree they earn." Moreover, "This effect is so strong that Democrats without a high school diploma are three times more accurate than those with a postgraduate degree" in their perceptions of Republicans.
For the better part of a month I've been fending off criticisms from people who demand to know why my political philosophy won't shut down or inhibit something called "Drag queen reading hour," a series of events held at a handful of libraries across America attended by a truly insignificant numbers of Americans.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/americas-most-educated-engaged-citizens-are-making-politics-worse/
Democrats are far less likely to support open borders, far more likely to support private ownership of firearms, and far more friendly to police than Republicans believe they are.
Spend nine seconds on Google, and you can find depressing studies that show "More than half of Americans can't name a single Supreme Court justice" or more Americans know that Randy Jackson was a judge on American Idol than know John Roberts is the chief justice of the United States.
The More in Common survey is different, and disturbing: It shows that political ignorance about the opposing party is driven by America's most engaged and most highly educated citizens.
In other words, the more you pay attention to political media, the less likely you are to understand the true beliefs of your political opponents.
Better-educated Republicans don't gain materially improved understanding of Democrats, while Democrats' knowledge of Republican beliefs "Actually gets worse with every additional degree they earn." Moreover, "This effect is so strong that Democrats without a high school diploma are three times more accurate than those with a postgraduate degree" in their perceptions of Republicans.
For the better part of a month I've been fending off criticisms from people who demand to know why my political philosophy won't shut down or inhibit something called "Drag queen reading hour," a series of events held at a handful of libraries across America attended by a truly insignificant numbers of Americans.
https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/americas-most-educated-engaged-citizens-are-making-politics-worse/
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