Everyone loves to talk about the recent poll showing that only 20% of respondents identify as "Liberal", and how the percentage of self-identified Conservatives is at an all time high. My take is that with Liberalism exposed in the manner of the current Congress and Administration as statist progressivism, a lot of folks who might have thought themselves "liberal", or at least a Democrat are saying, "If this is what it means to be a liberal, that ain't me." It may in fact be that a significant chunk of people in the middle, the Independents, actually hold the Market in higher esteem than their political affiliation and past voting might indicate. It is a question that probably did not give much cause for reflection for many people if only because it was taken for granted at a deep level. Now that the Market is under direct and openly hostile attack, people are forced to take a closer look at where they stand.
It also seems that may people are going to greater lengths to differentiate between economic and social positions, which no doubt accounts for the relatively high level of "libertarians" identified by Gallup.
I guess we will find out in the next couple of elections.
