Are leftists becoming a minority?

[Ikania]

Salutations, liberal hivemind of NSG and the conservatives brave enough to oppose them!

Recently, on a long car trip back home from out of town, I contemplated the rise of various parties like UKIP, the Front National, and especially the Hawkish, theocratic wing of the Republican party. It seems that in America and especially Europe (but not quite Canada), we're seeing a growing voice for radical right wing parties. UKIP is now the most talked about party in Britain, and will probably place 3rd in May's elections. The Front National in France, headed by Marine Le Pen, is also seeing their approval ratings rise while the Socialist Hollande's drop (in November he was at 18%, but after Charlie Hebdo he shot up to 40).

Since the birth of left-right politics, both sides have been on about equal levels, with one shining more than the other at times. But is it actually possible that more people are subscribing to conservative politics, and that the liberals are becoming the minority?

In comments sections everywhere, we see hateful comments towards Muslims, and many people espousing anti-Liberal rhetoric. We keep waving them off as trolls, but they're quite a majority compared to the left-wing, level-headed commenters. In the EU elections in June, who was at the head of the tide? UKIP. It seems that the anti-immigration and typically anti-equality parties, which many compare to the National Socialist Party of 1930s Germany (by their harsh stances on immigration and civil rights), are becoming extremely popular. While opinion polling in the UK at least shows UKIP at a distant third, it is quite possible that support for these extremist viewpoints will be our leaders in the future.

In America, Obama's approval rating have... stagnated, after dropping a lot. Last I checked he was around 40%. We've seen the rise of the Tea Party, and though we all mock him, people like Ted Cruz think they can actually become President. The Republicans swept to power in both houses in the midterm elections, and it's a mystery as to who will become President in 2016, because the polls vary.

Is it entirely possible that the collective leftists of the Western world are becoming a minority? Or is the right-wing minority just getting louder as they decline in size?

So, what sayeth ye, NSG? Is all not yet lost, is the future of the world in the hands of Nigel Farage, or can Syriza and Podemos restore confidence in our liberal values?

[United Russian Soviet States]

I hope so.

[Kubra]

"Becoming"?
sry bro we're monks escaped to our monasteries, keeping alive our dying theology

[Luziyca]

It will balance out eventually.

[Zurkerx]

I see them increasing in size, not decreasing unless they are labeled as Communists, dem reds.

[The Liberated Territories]

The left right spectrum is extremely stupid. But no, leftists aren't becoming a minority. at least not on this website. Rightists? Okay I can deal with a one on one convo. But leftists just pounce on you man. Every second person here is a communist, and all I have to do is refer to the last political compass poll.

[Diopolis]

No, because leftists were never a majority, even in situations that were utterly dominated by leftists.
There has always been a roughly equal division between leftists and rightists, true, but that's not out of the entirety of the population. Instead, the politically active subset of the population is divided into leftist and rightist roughly equally- probably about forty-five percent each. The remaining ten percent is alternative ideologies. That balance won't change anytime soon, barring something dramatic like a plague that kills all the old people. What is changing is what the left and right look like- the left is changing just as much as the right is.

[Romalae]

I'm not going to comment too much on the European side of the left-right spectrum, because my knowledge of that is relatively minimal.

However, as for the right wingers in America, it's a mixed bag. Based on my observations, it seems like the right-wingers who are gaining a lot of ground in terms of public opinion and populism are the economically-right, socially-liberal Libertarians. This demographic appears to be growing (especially on the Internet), while to me it seems like the hard-liner, old-school, social conservative, evangelical right-wing is vanishing.

I could be wrong on these observations, but nonetheless it is what I perceive.

In America, Obama's approval rating have... stagnated, after dropping a lot. Last I checked he was around 40%.

It's more like 45-48%, if you check RealClearPolitics. Which is pretty average, if you ask me.

[Herskerstad]

No, they might get a more permanent hold in the US, in fact. In Europe they do not fare generally as well, but then again, the conservative side never really seems to hold too well on the conservative values itself. Labour got a good shot of taking the UK, in France, while the socialist party has commited more or less seppuku at this point, the relatively unpopular previous president managed to pull the greatest regional victory of all time in France which would be something equivalent to GW Bush running as a senate majority leader, and swiping two thirds of the positions, but in doing that overshadowing the national front which were projected to do much better.

I say that the leftists are demographically gaining numbers on damn near every front, and at least having their losses cut when they are not.

[Diopolis]

I'm not going to comment too much on the European side of the left-right spectrum, because my knowledge of that is relatively minimal.

However, as for the right wingers in America, it's a mixed bag. Based on my observations, it seems like the right-wingers who are gaining a lot of ground in terms of public opinion and populism are the economically-right, socially-liberal Libertarians. This demographic appears to be growing (especially on the Internet), while to me it seems like the hard-liner, old-school, social conservative, evangelical right-wing is vanishing.

I could be wrong on these observations, but nonetheless it is what I perceive.

In America, Obama's approval rating have... stagnated, after dropping a lot. Last I checked he was around 40%.

It's more like 45-48%, if you check RealClearPolitics. Which is pretty average, if you ask me.

Besides, second term presidents have a tendency to be unpopular anyway.

[Herskerstad]

I'm not going to comment too much on the European side of the left-right spectrum, because my knowledge of that is relatively minimal.

However, as for the right wingers in America, it's a mixed bag. Based on my observations, it seems like the right-wingers who are gaining a lot of ground in terms of public opinion and populism are the economically-right, socially-liberal Libertarians. This demographic appears to be growing (especially on the Internet), while to me it seems like the hard-liner, old-school, social conservative, evangelical right-wing is vanishing.

I could be wrong on these observations, but nonetheless it is what I perceive.

In America, Obama's approval rating have... stagnated, after dropping a lot. Last I checked he was around 40%.

It's more like 45-48%, if you check RealClearPolitics. Which is pretty average, if you ask me.

It's actually pretty good comparing other presidents on a similar timeline. Which I think in part is due to the dominance on a minority coalition plus a sizable majority support that will probably never see him dip under 33% even if he used the constitution as a dining cloth.

[Vasileus]

I don't think it's just people become rightists for life all of a sudden. I think it's a clear reaction to a failure of leftist politics in certain nations. Look at nations with left wing governments; France is currently lead by the Socialists, and they fucked it up. Naturally, the right raises in retaliation.

On the other hand, look at Greece. Run by rightists, and they fucked up, so now they're run by the extreme left, who is now fucking up, starting the cycle all over again

[Romalae]

I'm not going to comment too much on the European side of the left-right spectrum, because my knowledge of that is relatively minimal.

However, as for the right wingers in America, it's a mixed bag. Based on my observations, it seems like the right-wingers who are gaining a lot of ground in terms of public opinion and populism are the economically-right, socially-liberal Libertarians. This demographic appears to be growing (especially on the Internet), while to me it seems like the hard-liner, old-school, social conservative, evangelical right-wing is vanishing.

I could be wrong on these observations, but nonetheless it is what I perceive.


It's more like 45-48%, if you check RealClearPolitics. Which is pretty average, if you ask me.

It's actually pretty good comparing other presidents on a similar timeline. Which I think in part is due to the dominance on a minority coalition plus a sizable majority support that will probably never see him dip under 33% even if he used the constitution as a dining cloth.

Maybe, but if you look at the graphs together, his looks relatively average.

[Zurkerx]

I don't think it's just people become rightists for life all of a sudden. I think it's a clear reaction to a failure of leftist politics in certain nations. Look at nations with left wing governments; France is currently lead by the Socialists, and they fucked it up. Naturally, the right raises in retaliation.

On the other hand, look at Greece. Run by rightists, and they fucked up, so now they're run by the extreme left, who is now fucking up, starting the cycle all over again

It's the circle of life!

[Conserative Morality]

Dying gasps of the last generation's conservatism. At least here in the States.

[Kincoboh]

No. Left politics is not dying. I'd say that politics is becoming more polarized, and the only reason why you don't hear about leftists - many of them anyway - is that they have largely abandoned representative democracy and are trying to change it. Anarchism is the replacement for radical left politics that filled the gap where the Soviet Union was. Fascism always will come down to despotism and will use whatever means necessary to come to power.

Minor gripe by the way, UKIP almost certainly will not be a major party in the HoC, I'd wager it will get around 4 or 5 seats, putting it far behind Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems and the SNP. Also, Canada is certainly extremely conservative now with Harper in power.

[Ikania]

No. Left politics is not dying. I'd say that politics is becoming more polarized, and the only reason why you don't hear about leftists - many of them anyway - is that they have largely abandoned representative democracy and are trying to change it. Anarchism is the replacement for radical left politics that filled the gap where the Soviet Union was. Fascism always will come down to despotism and will use whatever means necessary to come to power.

Minor gripe by the way, UKIP almost certainly will not be a major party in the HoC, I'd wager it will get around 4 or 5 seats, putting it far behind Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems and the SNP. Also, Canada is certainly extremely conservative now with Harper in power.

Canada's not conservative, in fact Justin Trudeau has been in the lead for most of the polls, they're around neck and neck now.

[Kincoboh]

No. Left politics is not dying. I'd say that politics is becoming more polarized, and the only reason why you don't hear about leftists - many of them anyway - is that they have largely abandoned representative democracy and are trying to change it. Anarchism is the replacement for radical left politics that filled the gap where the Soviet Union was. Fascism always will come down to despotism and will use whatever means necessary to come to power.

Minor gripe by the way, UKIP almost certainly will not be a major party in the HoC, I'd wager it will get around 4 or 5 seats, putting it far behind Labour, the Conservatives, Lib Dems and the SNP. Also, Canada is certainly extremely conservative now with Harper in power.

Canada's not conservative, in fact Justin Trudeau has been in the lead for most of the polls, they're around neck and neck now.

Justin Trudeau is conservative. He just doesn't market himself as a right-wing populist. The Conservatives have ruled Canada for almost a decade, and they have made Canada unrecognizable, and almost impossible to change back what he did. The real left-wingers in Canada are the New Democrats, and they are unlikely to run a government. The Conservatives, despite losing in public opinion polls, will still most likely get the most seats in October, and I am worried their propaganda and dirty tricks will give them another majority. All is not well in Canadia

[Skeckoa]

Well, issue by issue it does seem that either the left or the right is disappearing. Depending on what your priorities are as a leftist (also, how you define it), they might be in fact, becoming a minority.

[Confederate Ramenia]

One side becomes the powerful authority, starts oppressive BS that makes people realise it's not that good, youth starts rebelling against it by joining opponents.

This happens to all parties and ideologies that gain and keep power.

[Sagredo]

It's actually pretty good comparing other presidents on a similar timeline. Which I think in part is due to the dominance on a minority coalition plus a sizable majority support that will probably never see him dip under 33% even if he used the constitution as a dining cloth.

Maybe, but if you look at the graphs together, his looks relatively average.

Better than average for 'living memory' Presidents. Not as good as Clintons.
Currently more Favorable than Unfavorable.

[Romalae]

Maybe, but if you look at the graphs together, his looks relatively average.

Better than average for 'living memory' Presidents. Not as good as Clintons.
Currently more Favorable than Unfavorable.

The Gallup poll you cited there is the one outlier among nine recent approval rating polls. I check Gallup almost daily, also, and it's been more unfavorable than favorable consistently in recent months. I think it may be slightly up in Gallup's poll in response to the successful Iran nuclear deal or something of that sort.

[Teemant]

Hopefully left wing politics will lose followers.

And I doubt that Syriza will restore any confidence. If you haven't noticed Greece will run out of money in 9th april and today is 6th.

[Sagredo]

Better than average for 'living memory' Presidents. Not as good as Clintons.
Currently more Favorable than Unfavorable.

The Gallup poll you cited there is the one outlier among nine recent approval rating polls. I check Gallup almost daily, also, and it's been more unfavorable than favorable consistently in recent months. I think it may be slightly up in Gallup's poll in response to the successful Iran nuclear deal or something of that sort.

It probably is that. Has he done anything else recently?

[The Liberated Territories]

Hopefully left wing politics will lose followers.

And I doubt that Syriza will restore any confidence. If you haven't noticed Greece will run out of money in 9th april and today is 6th.

Just wait till tax day.