PEW Typology Quiz
Grace Ngere
Chamberlain, University
PEW Typology Quiz
This course was different from what I expected and even more enjoyable. In the two short months, it has completely changed my views and perceptions of politics and made me appreciate the democratic space we enjoy here in the US. I have learned the importance of political participation and how representative government works, the policy-making process, and the role played by each stakeholder.
My PEW research results show me as an “opportunity democrat,” explained as making 12% of the adult population and 13% of registered voters. Though less affluent and politically engaged and less liberal, this group tends to agree with “solid liberals” on major issues. The center also says that this group stands out among mainstream democrats as they believe hard work is adequate for people to get ahead, and less likely to see structural barriers facing blacks and women.
I agree with these results to a large extent; this is because, though I believe I am an independent, I usually agree with the democrats more than I do the republicans. As per the results, I am also less politically engaged, though this course may manage to change that. Like liberals, I believe on most issues about the environment, immigration among other, this notwithstanding, I don’t believe that all liberal issues and reforms are suitable for the country.
There are aspects of the results I disagree with, for instance, while hard work and industry are key to achieving the American dream, they are not the only ingredients. Many capable, willing, and hard-working individuals get held back by a lack of opportunities and system biases. Thus, I believe that it’s the government’s role to level the ground and offer a helping hand to disadvantaged individuals and groups. I also tend to see structural barriers (for instance, systemic racism) affecting minorities among them, women, and African Americans, and I strongly disapprove of President Trump’s job performance. In short, I describe myself as a moderate liberal. However, this may change in the future because, as Cobbs (2020), explains, the saliency of issues change, leading to a change in political behaviors and realignments.
References
Political Typology Quiz. (2020, July 29). Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/quiz/political-typology/
Political Typology Reveals Deep Fissures on the Right and Left (2017, October 24). Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2017/10/24/political-typology-reveals-deep-fissures-on-the-right-and-left/
Whitman Cobb, W. N. (2020). Political science today (1st ed.). Washington, DC: Sage, CQ Press.