American political landscape can be categorized into three distinct types. By perusing this article, you might ascertain which category aligns with your political beliefs.
In the bustling realm of news junkies, you're likely one of them - constantly updating yourself with the political landscape. You're not alone in your passionate pursuit of facts, but most Americans don't share your enthusiasm for staying informed.
In a fascinating study conducted by CNN/SSRS, the nation's attentiveness towards politics is divided into thirds, with 32% of people being frequent seekers of political news, 31% following major developments on their own, and the remaining 25% paying attention when necessity dictates.
Political engagement levels play a significant role in shaping opinions. For instance, those who remain in the loop were found to be more skeptical of sending troops to Los Angeles demonstrations, and President Donald Trump scored better on immigration among less informed voters. Interestingly, highly engaged Americans are also the ones who believe the nation's democracy is under attack.
Not surprisingly, those at the ideological extremes are the most tuned in - with 51% of very liberals and 47% of very conservatives falling into the heavily engaged category compared to 35% of somewhat liberals and just 29% and 22% of moderates and somewhat conservatives, respectively.
A Closer Look at the Engaged
Meet Robert Timm, a 75-year-old Democrat from Ukiah, California. He diligently starts his day reading headlines on Yahoo, frequently discusses politics with his wife, and concludes his evening engrossed in news on MSNBC. "I'm typically watching it fairly closely because I'm concerned about a lot of things happening in the country," said Timm. Older Americans, those with college degrees, wealthier households, White Americans, and men are more likely to be engaged in the news.
The Less Engaged, a Different Story
Among those who pay less attention, nearly 40% claim their views don't align with either party's across a majority of issues. "Honestly, I think they're the same," expressed Tyler Ruth, a mother from Hilton Head, South Carolina, who feels both parties hold power and money, and thus their interests often diverge from those of ordinary people.
Younger Americans, people of color, those with lower household incomes, people without college degrees, and women are more likely to be less engaged in the news. However, most still manage to keep themselves informed to some extent, and many did vote in the last election.
Overall, these lower attention groups broke in favor of Trump in the last election, which coincides with recently released data highlighting the crucial influence of infrequent voters in securing Trump's victory.
Sources:
- Pew Research Center: Political Polarization in the American Public
- Ideological Bubble Theory and the 2016 Election
- How News Consumption Affects Political Beliefs and Engagement
- The Impact of Partisan Media on Political Polarization
- CNN/SSRS Poll Analysis: American Political Engagement
It's essential to understand your news consumption habits and their influence on political opinions and engagement. Making informed choices can be the key to a more balanced perspective and active participation in our democratic process.
- In the CNN/SSRS study, it was revealed that the general news landscape, particularly politics, is divided into thirds: 32% of Americans are frequent seekers of political news, 31% follow major developments on their own, and the remaining 25% pay attention when necessity dictates.
- Among those who are less engaged in the news, many, like Tyler Ruth, a mother from Hilton Head, South Carolina, feel that both political parties prioritize power and money over ordinary people's interests, and as a result, their views don't align with either party across a majority of issues.
