Once in a while I want to post something that makes people happy.
Look at these graphs from the latest Gallup poll on political views. (H/T Ace of Spades via ECM)
Here are the numbers:
Conservatives are at 42%. Moderates at 35%. And Liberals at 20%.
And the independents?
Independents: 41%. Independent Conservatives: 36%. Independent liberals: 19%.
This is good news. But it will not be nice for us when we have to have “austerity measures” to prevent bankruptcy.
Excerpt:
Well, another wasted evening, another potential “Mr. Right” walking out of my life. I guess I should be used to it by now, because it’s just so typical: Men will talk all day about how much they value ambition and intelligence in a partner, but when they finally meet a successful, educated gorgon, all of a sudden they head for the hills.
Needless to say, a smart and sophisticated companion isn’t what these men are actually looking for. No, what they really want is some easily impressed mortal who’ll laugh at all their jokes. Someone who won’t challenge their minds or disagree with their opinions. Someone who lacks a visage so terrifying it turns all beholders into solid stone.
I suppose I could giggle, bat my eyes, and absent-mindedly twirl a fanged, hissing serpent around my fingers—but that’s not who I am.
Look, I bring a lot to the table. I’ve got an MBA from Harvard, I run my own company, I have the deadly power to steal the very breath of life from all who gaze upon me, and I’m in great shape. If I were a man, I’d be admired and even envied for these things. But I’m not, and because of that, men find me threatening. When I walk into a room, they turn away in fear, shutting their eyes tight and clambering out of the room in a panic.
These are grown men we’re talking about!
This is my kind of humor.
Story here in the Globe and Mail.
Excerpt:
A survey by Allan Gregg of Harris-Decima and Carleton University’s Professor André Turcotte concludes that while a majority of Canadians identify with the “centre” position on the political ideology scale, this centre is increasingly embracing “traditionally conservative values.”
The poll says a plurality – or 47 per cent – of those respondents who consider themselves political “centrists” voted for the Conservatives in 2008. By comparison, back in 1997, 41 per cent of those self-identified as centrists voted Liberal.
“What is most surprising about these results is how mainstream conservative the political centre has become,” Mr. Turcotte said.
The survey found a majority of Canadians strongly agreed with traditionally conservative value statements on the morality of abortion, the definition of marriage as “between a man and a woman” and the supremacy of the family.
And:
Separately, the polling identified significant support for Tory government’s handling of issues like the long-gun registry and global warming.
The poll says six in 10 respondents back the Harper government’s decision to abolish the long-gun registry. It found half of respondents back the Tory go-slow approach to fighting climate change. And six in 10 said the Conservative government is doing “just enough” to deal with the economic recession.
Mr. Turcotte said Canadians also appear to be losing confidence in government ability’s to use social engineering to fix economic inequality in Canada.
Only 31 per cent of respondents felt government action is the best way to solve economic problems.
You can read a nice comparison of the US and Canadian economies from the libertarian Cato Institute.
I know I have a fair number of Canadian readers, especially the regular ones from Winkler, Morden, Coquitlam and Calgary (yes, I saw you all in the live traffic feed – why don’t you e-mail me ever? I’m not going bite you!). Please leave me a comment about where the best place to live is in Canada, in case I ever have to move there at some point to find a job.
WINTERY KNIGHT 