The Far Right Represents Only 6 percent of U.S. Citizens

So as much as we've heard that the "alt-right" is such a threat from the media, only 6% fit into this extreme right catagory. (according to a study)

It's almost like there is an agenda to polarize the country further

Researchers looking into political and social divides in America said in a new study that only 6% of American fit the definition of far right, people who feel that America is under threat and they’re the last line of defense in protecting traditional values with strident uncompromising views.

On the other end of the political spectrum, the study identified 8% of Americans as “Progressive Activists”

The study, called “Hidden Tribes,” broke out results into seven categories, with 67% of those surveyed falling into what researchers labeled the “Exhausted Majority.” This largest grouping looks for common ground, has opinions based on situations instead of conforming to strict ideologies—and hates polarization.

fortune

If this study is even close on these numbers, it shows that the loudest voices really do take the stage.

It also shows that many from both extremes have been pushing to polarize further.

What's everyone else's opinion? Do you think the numbers are close?

a reply to: CriticalStinker

Sounds close to being correct to me.

I still contend that the vast majority of people are good people that want the country to succeed, and are willing to hear out people with different opinions than them.

Its just those voices get drowned out by the extremists on all sides.

a reply to: Grambler

I still contend that the vast majority of people are good people that want the country to succeed, and are willing to hear out people with different opinions than them.

I have always been under the impression of talking to all groups that we agree what are problems are a vast majority of the time, we all just see different ways of solving them.

I think that's what everything boils down to, but with the advent of the internet giving everyone a voice where we are behind a screen of anonymity, the conversations have gotten more toxic.

The "Nazi" - "White Supremacy" crap is only being perpetrated by far less than 1%.

Remember many "Far Left" orgs are involved in blame shifting.

Election tricks abound.

💥😎💥

Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

those 8 percent seem to be the one's on the news with microphones. But it's all good since it's really "democratic socialism". (it' not really the Venezuela kind)

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

those 8 percent seem to be the one's on the news with microphones. But it's all good since it's really "democratic socialism". (it' not really the Venezuela kind)

I mean, aside from single payer health care, I myself have not caught much wind of any popular issues that could be perceived as socialist.

Seems to me that both sides like to embellish the amount of extremists there are on their opponents side.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

According to the same report, moderates only represent 15%.

The largest politically active group is the traditional conservatives at 19%.

originally posted by: NiNjABackflip

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

According to the same report, moderates only represent 15%.

The largest politically active group is the traditional conservatives at 19%.

It does say that 15% are moderates with no lean, however there are other groups that have a lean but are moderate in nature, and have a different opinion issue by issue.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: NiNjABackflip

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

According to the same report, moderates only represent 15%.

The largest politically active group is the traditional conservatives at 19%.

It does say that 15% are moderates with no lean, however there are other groups that have a lean but are moderate in nature, and have a different opinion issue by issue.

It has a decent description of moderates:

Moderates reflect the middle of the road of public opinion in America. They tend to be engaged in their communities, often volunteer, and are interested in current affairs, but uncomfortable with the tribalism of politics. They tend to be socially conservative. Religion plays an important role in their lives, but they reject extremism and intolerance. They strongly disapprove of Donald Trump as president and overwhelmingly believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction. Among those planning to vote in the 2018 midterms, they favor Democrats over Republicans by a margin of 4-3. Yet they also think that political correctness has gone too far. They dislike the activism and what they see as extremism of both progressives and conservatives. While they think feminism has gone too far, they also recognize sexual harassment as an important issue. They support the notion of sanctuary cities and want undocumented immigrants to have better treatment. They reject extreme policies such as building a border wall and a ‘Muslim travel ban.’ They are worried about the state of America and feel that American identity is slipping away. They feel conflicted on certain social justice issues, including same sex marriage, and they are slower to embrace change. They tend to seek less radical solutions than Devoted or Traditional Conservatives.

It sounds like they have a lean.

a reply to: NiNjABackflip

Really? Which lean is that? Because you could cherry pick it either way.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: NiNjABackflip

Really? Which lean is that? Because you could cherry pick it either way.

Sorry, maybe I don't understand your definition of "lean". Lean, in its noun sense, usually suggests and inclination or tendency. Do you mean a lean left or right?

originally posted by: NiNjABackflip

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: NiNjABackflip

Really? Which lean is that? Because you could cherry pick it either way.

Sorry, maybe I don't understand your definition of "lean". Lean, in its noun sense, usually suggests and inclination or tendency. Do you mean a lean left or right?

The study, and thread are both under the context of a left and right political line.

Yes, everyone has inclinations if they have opinions.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: NiNjABackflip

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: NiNjABackflip

Really? Which lean is that? Because you could cherry pick it either way.

Sorry, maybe I don't understand your definition of "lean". Lean, in its noun sense, usually suggests and inclination or tendency. Do you mean a lean left or right?

The study, and thread are both under the context of a left and right political line.

Yes, everyone has inclinations if they have opinions.

Apologies again.

Yes, moderates are centrists. Either way, 15% is a lot less than 40%.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

those 8 percent seem to be the one's on the news with microphones. But it's all good since it's really "democratic socialism". (it' not really the Venezuela kind)

I mean, aside from single payer health care, I myself have not caught much wind of any popular issues that could be perceived as socialist.

Seems to me that both sides like to embellish the amount of extremists there are on their opponents side.

so as a person on the left, you are against socialism, for border security, and strengthening voter fraud protections?

If so, then you may not be a left winger at all.

originally posted by: CriticalStinker
It's almost like there is an agenda to polarize the country further

No, that is their agenda. It's what gives them power over Libs to get their votes. If there was no hatred, Libs would be doomed.

a reply to: CriticalStinker

90% of all statistics are flawed...but only 5% of the population knows that...

maybe you should have included the 'dems' extrmist percentage in your title too.
but as ats is a far right leaning site, 73% of the comments will be bashing dems as a whole whilst making clear that only 6% of conservatives are extreme....


the replies are already proving that 73% claim to be on its way to accuracy

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: CriticalStinker

originally posted by: schuyler
Why concentrate on the FAR right or the FAR left? How about just the right, just people who dislike this race to socialism? That's a lot more than 6%.

The socialism part probably ties in with the 8% on the far left.

As far as just the left, and just the right, If I remember correctly Democrats and Republicans both hover around 30% each, the remaining 40% is moderate.

those 8 percent seem to be the one's on the news with microphones. But it's all good since it's really "democratic socialism". (it' not really the Venezuela kind)

I mean, aside from single payer health care, I myself have not caught much wind of any popular issues that could be perceived as socialist.

Seems to me that both sides like to embellish the amount of extremists there are on their opponents side.

so as a person on the left, you are against socialism, for border security, and strengthening voter fraud protections?

If so, then you may not be a left winger at all.

I'm not a "person of the left".

I agree with certain issues they bring up from time to time, but none of the ones you just listed.

Although I will be honest, if someone could sensibly make a very basic single payer health care system, I wouldn't be oppose if it doesn't raise taxes. (So I highly doubt that anytime soon anyone proposes a way to meet that criteria for me).

a reply to: odzeandennz

maybe you should have included the 'dems' extrmist percentage in your title too. but as ats is a far right leaning site, 73% of the comments will be bashing dems as a whole whilst making clear that only 6% of conservatives are extreme....

I thought about it, but then my title would have been too long as symbols can't be included.

This was also a snippet of the actual title of the article.

I wasn't intentionally trying to misrepresent anything, I included all the numbers, right, middle, and left into the actual OP.