WE'RE MORE LIBERAL...BUT REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO WINNING MORE – OVERNIGHT:  A well-thought-out survey gives us an unusual view of the American electorate.  Nothing simplistic here.  From studyfinds: 

NEW YORK — Americans are generally much more liberal than they were 50 years ago, with public views taking a decidedly liberal slant in the 1990s, a new study finds. Despite that shift, researchers from New York University note these changes in public sentiment aren’t translating into today’s politics.

Why? While the average American may be more liberal today when it comes to topics such as gender, sexuality, race, and personal liberty than in the 1970s, views on polarizing issues like gun control, taxes, and abortion have largely remained the same. Study authors state these polarizing issues still sway voting decisions in a major way.

“America is a more liberal country now than it was 50 years ago,” says study author and NYU sociologist Michael Hout in a university release. “But its politics do not reflect this because polarizing attitudes and behaviors changed less than either values or lifestyles.”

Using data from the General Social Survey (GSS), researchers assessed nearly 300 distinct variables (attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors) among respondents. Study authors collected this data between 1972 and 2018, placing respondents into 32 different groups depending on their age. The groups spaced Americans out by age, representing a gap of two to three years for each group. This included Americans born as early as 1882, as well as people born as late as 2000.

According to the analysis, each generation is just a little more liberal than their predecessors. More specifically, researchers deemed about 62 percent of the variables to slant more liberal among modern day Americans in comparison to older age groups. Conversely, only five percent of the variables shifted to a more conservative stance over time.

COMMENT:  Read the whole thing.  Fundamentally, what the study author is saying makes sense.  On individual issues, people might become more liberal.  But on an overall view of life, they maintain traditional, moderate values.  Also, the definition of "liberal" can vary considerably.  Before the Vietnam era, a liberal was usually in favor of social programs at home, but was fiercely anti-Communist and pro-defense abroad.  Today, the label "liberal" is often misassigned to lightweight socialists who know they'll get further if they simply call themselves liberal, rather than socialist. 

Given the views of the majority today, I'd imagine we'll see many voters in November who support some historically liberal programs, but who'll pull the Republican lever because they're outraged at what "liberalism" has become within the Democratic Party.  In addition, Republicans are getting far better at communicating with longtime liberal groups, like American Hispanics, and it's showing in much of the polling. 

January 11,  2022