American Voters, Do You have Political Viewpoints You Fear to Share Openly?

Captain Adverse · Jul 24, 2020

New CATO Survey indicates 62% of Americans have Political Viewpoints they're Afraid to Share.

I was watching a YouTube presenter (TimCast) earlier today. He was discussing this new survey by the CATO Institute:

62% of American's say They have Political Views they are Afraid to Share...

A new CATO national survey finds that self‐censorship is on the rise in the United States. Nearly two-thirds—62%—of Americans say the political climate these days prevents them from saying things they believe because others might find them offensive. The share of Americans who self‐censor has risen several points since 2017 when 58% of Americans agreed with this statement.

These fears cross partisan lines. Majorities of Democrats (52%), independents (59%) and Republicans (77%) all agree they have political opinions they are afraid to share...

Staunch Liberals stand out as the only group who feel they can share their political opinions...

What’s changed? In 2017 most centrist liberals felt confident (54%) they could express their views. However today, slightly less than half (48%) feel the same. The share who feel they cannot be open increased 7 points from 45% in 2017 to 52% today. In fact, there have been shifts across the board, where more people among all political groups feel they are walking on eggshells...

Self‐censorship is widespread across demographic groups as well. Nearly two‐thirds of Latino Americans (65%) and White Americans (64%) and nearly half of African Americans (49%) have political views they are afraid to share.

Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They’re Afraid to Share | Cato Institute

Now Mr. Pool argues that this shows more Americans are opposed to the actions of the "outspoken few," and that this might translate to how they vote in November 2020. You can find his "discussion" here:

The Silent Majority is REAL, We Have Hard Proof They Exist - YouTube

I think that much like in 2016, this does represent a "Silent Majority" who give lip service to the extreme views being touted in the Media these days, but secretly oppose them.

I kind-of agree with Mr. Pool, in that much like 2016, certain segments of American "likely" voters will overtly agree in seeming support of the "We hate Trump" chants. But this might simply be protective camouflage, and they might well show this by either voting Trump, or simply not voting at all for either candidate.

Time will tell.

However, I am wondering how Forum members fall when it comes to fear of sharing political viewpoints.

So I'll use the same CATO breakdown, and the vote will be "secret" to protect member anonymity.

Here is the Question:

Agree/Disagree: The political Climate these days prevents me from saying things I believe because others might find them offensive.

1. Strong Liberal I Agree.

2. Strong Liberal I Disagree.

3. Liberal I Agree.

4. Liberal I Disagree.

5. Moderate I Agree.

6. Moderate I Disagree.

7. Conservative I Agree.

8. Conservative I Disagree.

9. Strong Conservative I Agree.

10 Strong Conservative I Disagree.

swing_voter · Jul 24, 2020

Do you mean like share them at work?

It's nobodies business what I think.

Captain Adverse · Jul 24, 2020

swing_voter said:
Do you mean like share them at work?

It's nobodies business what I think.

Why assume that limitation? Is work your ONLY public interaction?

The questions is, are you afraid to either speak your mind, or not on political issues with others who KNOW who you are but who might get offended?

Friends, neighbors, co-workers, employers, club members, whatever?

This is in any public situation where you may be vulnerable to reactions. That would include social media where you have self-identified (Twitter, Facebook, etc.).

So this Forum does not count...most of us are anonymous.

trixare4kids · Jul 24, 2020

Captain Adverse said:
New CATO Survey indicates 62% of Americans have Political Viewpoints they're Afraid to Share.

I was watching a YouTube presenter (TimCast) earlier today. He was discussing this new survey by the CATO Institute:

Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They’re Afraid to Share | Cato Institute

Now Mr. Pool argues that this shows more Americans are opposed to the actions of the "outspoken few," and that this might translate to how they vote in November 2020. You can find his "discussion" here:

The Silent Majority is REAL, We Have Hard Proof They Exist - YouTube

I think that much like in 2016, this does represent a "Silent Majority" who give lip service to the extreme views being touted in the Media these days, but secretly oppose them.

I kind-of agree with Mr. Pool, in that much like 2016, certain segments of American "likely" voters will overtly agree in seeming support of the "We hate Trump" chants. But this might simply be protective camouflage, and they might well show this by either voting Trump, or simply not voting at all for either candidate.

Time will tell.

However, I am wondering how Forum members fall when it comes to fear of sharing political viewpoints.

So I'll use the same CATO breakdown, and the vote will be "secret" to protect member anonymity.

Here is the Question:

Agree/Disagree: The political Climate these days prevents me from saying things I believe because others might find them offensive.

1. Strong Liberal I Agree.

2. Strong Liberal I Disagree.

3. Liberal I Agree.

4. Liberal I Disagree.

5. Moderate I Agree.

6. Moderate I Disagree.

7. Conservative I Agree.

8. Conservative I Disagree.

9. Strong Conservative I Agree.

10 Strong Conservative I Disagree.

Look at Lori Lightfoot for an example of what's wrong with our country. She attempts to scapegoat Trump, guns, Christopher Columbus for the violence happening in her city. This narrative might go over well with the intelligence impaired, but for the average voter and above or the silent majority, they're keeping their opinons to themselves and will go to the polls to vote against this type of loony leftism that we are seeing in cities such as Chicago, Portland, and Seattle.

eta: Btw, I am on Facebook with a lot of my old classmates from HS.
Only the left from that group are vocal. The silence from the right astounds.

rickc · Jul 24, 2020

Here in the south I am surrounded by trumpsters. I don't discuss politics with anyone. Sometimes I grit my teeth to keep from telling them how stupid they are.

lurchadams · Jul 24, 2020

It's easy not to offend people. Just don't act like a total dick.

Patriotic Voter · Jul 24, 2020

There is ONE political opinion I have that cannot be said to anyone. I would get a warning for saying it here. It is not a fear of offending other people, but the totally inappropriate nature of having and expressing such thoughts for any reason.

dave8383 · Jul 24, 2020

Blue Donkey said:
There is ONE political opinion I have that cannot be said to anyone. I would get a warning for saying it here. It is not a fear of offending other people, but the totally inappropriate nature of having and expressing such thoughts for any reason.

cpwill · Jul 25, 2020

It depends entirely on the company.

CharloTexan · Jul 25, 2020

I went alone to a hamburger joint and also a good BBQ restaurant, both fully open for business in late June, and both in townships and a county in Texas that are confirmed to be conservative strongholds. I was the only person in either establishment wearing a mask, and I assure you I would not have started any conversation therein with my fellow patrons, nor staff, with, "I'm in favor of a women's right to choice on the abortion question, what do you think?" I wouldn't even have said, "Why aren't y'all wearing masks?"

So it certainly depends on the audience. But if I said here in this debate forum that as a liberal, I see the upside to a socialistic society, I might be ridiculed by many on the right, but I am somewhat protected by my relative anonymity, and I am surrounded by mostly people who are willing to discuss my assertion in a civil manner. Whereupon I would be able to further explain my position, and discuss and recognize the pros and cons. I can't do that in a rabidly conservative Texas BBQ establishment, not the pool hall next door, nor the launder-mat on the other side.

Patriotic Voter · Jul 25, 2020

CharloTexan said:
I went alone to a hamburger joint and also a good BBQ restaurant, both fully open for business in late June, and both in townships and a county in Texas that are confirmed to be conservative strongholds. I was the only person in either establishment wearing a mask, and I assure you I would not have started any conversation therein with my fellow patrons, nor staff, with, "I'm in favor of a women's right to choice on the abortion question, what do you think?" I wouldn't even have said, "Why aren't y'all wearing masks?"

So it certainly depends on the audience. But if I said here in this debate forum that as a liberal, I see the upside to a socialistic society, I might be ridiculed by many on the right, but I am somewhat protected by my relative anonymity, and I am surrounded by mostly people who are willing to discuss my assertion in a civil manner. Whereupon I would be able to further explain my position, and discuss and recognize the pros and cons. I can't do that in a rabidly conservative Texas BBQ establishment, not the pool hall next door, nor the launder-mat on the other side.

I agree. Amti-choicers who disguise themselves as pro-lifers are quick to accuse me of wanting women to murder babies despite knowing every English dictionary defines "murder" as ILLEGAL killing and the Constitution specifies only BORN human beings have any rights. My meal would quickly be ruined if I told anybody in a restaurant only women's rights matter.

2distracted · Jul 25, 2020

I was going to say I tell ppl e
What I think and don't care if they like it or not

But there are times when I keep things to myself

The Left are Intolerant and bullying

d0gbreath · Jul 25, 2020

There was that one time when I grabbed a bullhorn and admonished the Bikers for trump at their rally. They flipped me off, I flipped them off, we had beer.

2distracted · Jul 25, 2020

Blue Donkey said:
I agree. Amti-choicers who disguise themselves as pro-lifers are quick to accuse me of wanting women to murder babies despite knowing every English dictionary defines "murder" as ILLEGAL killing and the Constitution specifies only BORN human beings have any rights. My meal would quickly be ruined if I told anybody in a restaurant only women's rights matter.

In Nazi Germany it was legal...aka Business as usual

If it wer legal to kill ppl like u, u would think differently

SomeCents · Jul 26, 2020

I'm a moderate and I do believe the current "PC" environment makes it difficult to express my personal beliefs. Not so much because I might offend someone....but because I believe it'll be held against me (mostly from a job/livelihood perspective). It's why I don't do Social Media and post so little here.

Waddy · Jul 26, 2020

Having a Trump sign in your yard can get you killed... especially if you're black. They aren't allowed off the Democrat Plantation.

2distracted · Jul 26, 2020

Waddy said:
Having a Trump sign in your yard can get you killed... especially if you're black. They aren't allowed off the Democrat Plantation.

And that, my friends, tells u everything u need to know about liberals

eman623 · Jul 27, 2020

I join a daily call with some co-workers who work out of Portland. They regularly trash Trump.

I hold my tongue because you never can tell with liberals how they will react if you openly defend Trump even in the slightest. They are tolerant of every kind of diversity except diversity of opinion.

TheParser · Aug 19, 2020

Of course, people are afraid to say what they are thinking.

a. They might be beaten up.
b. They might lose their job.
c. They might be shunned by family and friends.
d. They might be banned from social media and forums.
e. They might be expelled from school.

Of the estimated 330,000,000 people in this country, most people go along to get along. They avoid controversial discussions with friends and colleagues, and they avoid posting anything on any Internet platform. Any comments can come back to bite one in the posterior -- thanks to Cancel Culture, which will be on steroids as soon as the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., becomes the (nominal) 46th President.

Eriech · Aug 19, 2020

Captain Adverse said:
New CATO Survey indicates 62% of Americans have Political Viewpoints they're Afraid to Share.

I was watching a YouTube presenter (TimCast) earlier today. He was discussing this new survey by the CATO Institute:

Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They’re Afraid to Share | Cato Institute

Now Mr. Pool argues that this shows more Americans are opposed to the actions of the "outspoken few," and that this might translate to how they vote in November 2020. You can find his "discussion" here:

The Silent Majority is REAL, We Have Hard Proof They Exist - YouTube

I think that much like in 2016, this does represent a "Silent Majority" who give lip service to the extreme views being touted in the Media these days, but secretly oppose them.

I kind-of agree with Mr. Pool, in that much like 2016, certain segments of American "likely" voters will overtly agree in seeming support of the "We hate Trump" chants. But this might simply be protective camouflage, and they might well show this by either voting Trump, or simply not voting at all for either candidate.

Time will tell.

However, I am wondering how Forum members fall when it comes to fear of sharing political viewpoints.

So I'll use the same CATO breakdown, and the vote will be "secret" to protect member anonymity.

Here is the Question:

Agree/Disagree: The political Climate these days prevents me from saying things I believe because others might find them offensive.

1. Strong Liberal I Agree.

2. Strong Liberal I Disagree.

3. Liberal I Agree.

4. Liberal I Disagree.

5. Moderate I Agree.

6. Moderate I Disagree.

7. Conservative I Agree.

8. Conservative I Disagree.

9. Strong Conservative I Agree.

10 Strong Conservative I Disagree.

I live in a very blue district that overwhelmingly went to Hillary in 2016. There are Trump signs and flags displayed prominately in front of homes. A lot of them are very creative with American flags, flowers in well manicured lawns and gardens. I don't recall seeing any that are in disrepair even after being displayed for months now. 100s In my travels to one Biden flag ( you cannot see the home from it) and 2 black lives matter signs. Anecdotal I know, but there are a lot of people here proudly showing support for Trump.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Ontologuy · Aug 31, 2020

I'm a centrist (moderate in the poll) and though I share my political views with those left, right, and center whom I personally know and who agree with me, when it comes to telling the truth about Marxist BLM's conspiracy theory mass hysteria false narrative of "racists and brutal cops are everywhere in America persecuting Black people" I don't share with people on the left or people I can't trust to be discrete that I know it's a conspiracy theory mass hysteria, as I'm understandably afraid it will reach the BLM "cancel culture" mob and I would get harassed, to put it mildly.

So I understand why many people who disagree with the left want to remain silent, as the leftists, especially the younger immature leftists, don't have the emotional health and maturity to just sit respectfully while someone expresses an opinion that differs from their own, and instead these leftists want to censor and silence those who disagree with them, especially if the particular leftist has succumbed to identity politics, as, unlike people who evaluate the issues with reasoned thinking to make their decisions, those who succumb to identity politics vest their actual ego-identity in their position, so hearing an opposing position can be psychologically painful for these leftists, which they're unable to tolerate. So rather than excuse themselves until they are emotionally healthy and mature enough to hear an opposing opinion, which would be the rightly ethical thing to do, they instead want to silence the presenter of the opposing position's free speech.

rickc · Aug 31, 2020

I don't talk politics with anyone. This is my only outlet to vent.

I live in a very red area and work construction an industry dominated by trumpers at managment.level at least.

Helix · Aug 31, 2020

i don't talk politics at work or on the facebooks.

Luther · Aug 31, 2020

Captain Adverse said:
New CATO Survey indicates 62% of Americans have Political Viewpoints they're Afraid to Share.

I was watching a YouTube presenter (TimCast) earlier today. He was discussing this new survey by the CATO Institute:

Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They’re Afraid to Share | Cato Institute

Now Mr. Pool argues that this shows more Americans are opposed to the actions of the "outspoken few," and that this might translate to how they vote in November 2020. You can find his "discussion" here:

The Silent Majority is REAL, We Have Hard Proof They Exist - YouTube

I think that much like in 2016, this does represent a "Silent Majority" who give lip service to the extreme views being touted in the Media these days, but secretly oppose them.

I kind-of agree with Mr. Pool, in that much like 2016, certain segments of American "likely" voters will overtly agree in seeming support of the "We hate Trump" chants. But this might simply be protective camouflage, and they might well show this by either voting Trump, or simply not voting at all for either candidate.

Time will tell.

However, I am wondering how Forum members fall when it comes to fear of sharing political viewpoints.

So I'll use the same CATO breakdown, and the vote will be "secret" to protect member anonymity.

Here is the Question:

Agree/Disagree: The political Climate these days prevents me from saying things I believe because others might find them offensive.

1. Strong Liberal I Agree.

2. Strong Liberal I Disagree.

3. Liberal I Agree.

4. Liberal I Disagree.

5. Moderate I Agree.

6. Moderate I Disagree.

7. Conservative I Agree.

8. Conservative I Disagree.

9. Strong Conservative I Agree.

10 Strong Conservative I Disagree.

New CATO Survey indicates 62% of Americans have Political Viewpoints they're Afraid to Share

That's just more ammo for me when I say we have a citizenry problem

Luther · Aug 31, 2020

swing_voter said:
Do you mean like share them at work?

It's nobodies business what I think.

So you're bought off then?

American Voters, Do You have Political Viewpoints You Fear to Share Openly?

The political Climate prevents me from saying things I believe because others might be offendeds

1. Strong Liberal I Agree.

2. Strong Liberal I Disagree.

3. Liberal I Agree.

4. Liberal I Disagree.

5. Moderate I Agree.

6. Moderate I Disagree.

7. Conservative I Agree.

8. Conservative I Disagree.

9. Strong Conservative I Agree.

10 Strong Conservative I Disagree.

Classical Liberal Sage

Classical Liberal Sage

Zoom Warrior

Smarter than trolls

Smarter than trolls

Yellow Dog Democrat

Another California Refugee

Another California Refugee