Left and right

I found this infographic when stumbling on Stumble Upon, and I have to admit I'm fascinated with it.

It compares generalizations about conservatives and liberals in a seemingly consistent, if not totally objective, ways. A lot of it appeared to be based on objective data, but I didn't see the sources.

For example, the conservative parent tends to be more strict, more religious, and produces a more disciplined child, a more self-reliant adult.

The liberal parent tends to be more nurturing, more empathetic, and produces a more reflective child, a more fulfilled adult.

Liberals favor equality. Conservatives prefer freedom. Liberals tend to be urban; conservatives are more rural. Individuals on the left might be attracted to careers like science, teaching, media (I thought that was interesting). Those on the right might prefer to become a police officer, in the military, or in sales.

I can't decide how much I agree with it, but I like it because I think authors were being honest and non-judgmental. So often, any examination of the left or right thinking comes with such obvious bias that you can only agree with the view if you fall on the side being promoted.

The graphic comes from a fabulous Web site that appears to have roots in England (it has an English version), and so I think perhaps the authors' distance from the American political system offers some good insight. In fact, it has a lot of cool charts on all sorts of interesting topics. But, I am getting side-tracked.

Lately, I've been feeling that politics has become so divided that it seems almost impossible to have an honest discussion with anyone about any important civic topic without worrying I'd be saddled with one label or another. Both have negative connotations by the way.

Be honest, If I told you I was a conservative, would you roll your eyes? If I told you I was liberal, would you be disappointed?

According to a recent Gallup poll, in 2009 49.0 percent of Americans saw themselves as Democrats or leaned Democratic. Gallup found that 40.7 percent of Americans identified themselves as Republicans or leaned Republican. The Dem number is down from 2008, and the Reps number is up. In 2003 the two parties were separated by one tenth of one percent.

I didn't see any numbers for bleading-heart commie v. bible-thumping nutjobs. I'd like to think they have about 5 percent each. At most.