The conventional wisdom that Americans are overwhelmingly conservative is fundamentally false, according to “The Progressive Majority: Why a Conservative America is a Myth,” a study of poll data by Media Matters for America and Campaign for America’s Future.

The two organizations conducted the study by examining independent, nonpartisan polling data over the past 20 years from sources such as the American National Election Studies (NES), the General Social Survey (GSS), and Gallup polls.

Among the key findings of the study:

• The role of government:

• 69% of Americans say the government “should care for those who can’t care for themselves.”
• Twice as many people (43% vs. 20%) say they want “government to provide many more services even if it means an increase in spending” as want government to provide fewer services “in order to reduce spending.”

• The economy:
  • 77% of Americans say Congress should increase the minimum wage.
  • 66% say “upper-income people” pay too little in taxes.
  • 53% say the Bush administration’s tax cuts have failed because they have increased the deficit and caused cuts in government programs.

• Social issues:
  • 61% of Americans support embryonic stem cell research.
  • 62% want to protect Roe v. Wade.

  

  • Only 3% of Americans rank same-sex marriage as the “most important” social issue.
• Security:
  • 43% of Americans say we are spending too much on our military.
  • 60% say the federal government should do more about restricting the kinds of guns that people can purchase.
• The environment:
  • 75% of Americans would be wiling to pay more for electricity if it were generated by renewable sources to help reduce global warming.
  • 79% want higher emissions standards for automobiles.
• Energy:
  • 52% of Americans say “the best way for the US to reduce its reliance on foreign oil” is to “have the government invest in alternative energy sources.”
  • 68% say US energy policy is better solved by conservation than production.
• Immigration:
  • 57% of Americans say “most recent immigrants to the US contribute to this country” rather than “cause problems.”
  • 67% of Americans say, “on the whole,” immigration is a “good thing for this country today.”
• Health care:
  • 69% of Americans say it is the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have access to health coverage.
  • 76% find access to healthcare more important than maintaining the Bush tax cuts.
  • Three in five would be willing to have their own taxes increased to achieve universal health coverage.