Zogby International conducted a survey to measure how well people understand economics and what their political persuasion was. The conclusion they came to was clear: the Left is economically ignorant. As reported in the Wall Street Journal (Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?) there were eight questions and the multiple choice answers were: Strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree or are not sure. Here are the statements:
- Mandatory licensing of professional services increases the prices of those services
- Overall, the standard of living is higher today than it was 30 years ago
- Rent control leads to housing shortages
- A company with the largest market share is a monopoly
- Third World workers working for American companies overseas are being exploited
- Free trade leads to unemployment
- Minimum wage laws raise unemployment
Answers of strongly agree and somewhat agree were grouped together for scoring purposes, as were strongly disagree and somewhat disagree. The survey respondents were then asked their political persuasion: progressive/very liberal; liberal; moderate; conservative; very conservative; libertarian. The correct answers to the statements are
- Agree
- Agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Disagree
- Disagree
- Agree
Here is how the respondents performed grouped by political views:
- Libertarians 84.3% correct answers
- Very conservative 82.4% correct answers
- Conservative 77.7% correct answers
- Liberals 59.9% correct answers
- Progressive/very liberal 32.4% correct
If this were a course in school, liberal, very liberal, and progressive students, would have all failed and in some cases miserably; conservatives would all have passed by comfortable margins. The article goes on to say, “The pattern was not an anomaly.” I think this survey explains an enormous amount about the frustration being felt across America today.
Other studies have shown that about 60% of Americans describe themselves as conservative. The current administration is driving hard left at an extraordinary rate and most Americans don’t understand what President Obama and the Democratic Congress are doing or why. This survey explains it pretty well. They don’t know what they are doing, or they are expecting outcomes that are economically flawed. The American people know it and they have been shouting, “STOP!” But the Democrats blissfully press on in their ignorance and are confused why America is not going along.
Statists have long assumed and treat their fellow Americans as if we are too stupid to know what they are doing is for our own good. Well here’s the proof folks that the American people are the ones who know what works and what doesn’t and the only way to fix it is to send all the progressives/very liberal/liberal politicians packing. If we elect conservatives they will implement what works and what economics proves works, and our country will be on the mend.
