Enterpriser That's a nice name for "really conservative."

Based on your answers to the questionnaire, you most closely resemble survey respondents within the Enterpriser typology group. This does not mean that you necessarily fit every group characteristic or agree with the group on all issues. Their disclaimer, not mine.

Enterprisers represent 9 percent of the American public, and 10 percent of registered voters.

Basic Description

As in previous studies conducted in 1987, 1994 and 1999, this extremely partisan Republican group's politics are driven by a belief in the free enterprise system and social values that reflect a conservative agenda. Enterprisers are also the strongest backers of an assertive foreign policy, which includes nearly unanimous support for the war in Iraq and strong support for such anti-terrorism efforts as the Patriot Act. "Extremely" "partisan"? Now those are two words that seem to never seem mean anything positive, especially when they are used together. Who's writing this thing?

Defining Values
Assertive on foreign policy and patriotic; anti-regulation and pro-business; very little support for government help to the poor; strong belief that individuals are responsible for their own well being. Conservative on social issues such as gay marriage, but not much more religious than the nation as a whole. Very satisfied with personal financial situation. Hmm, assertive? That's good. Patriotic? Yep. Hey- wait a minute! Very little support for government help for the poor. That sounds a little heartless. How about something like, "don't believe that most government programs meant to deleviate poverty have worked, many are wasteful, and that we should try other methods. Still agree that there should be a temporary "safety net" for those who find themselves in bad situations.

And TRUE enterprisers are never VERY satisfied with their financial situation. They are always striving to improve it. (Besides- my financial situation is lacking at the moment- but that's temporary.)

Who They Are
Predominantly white (91%), male (76%) and financially well-off (62% have household incomes of at least $50,000, compared with 40% nationwide). Nearly half (46%) have a college degree, and 77% are married. Nearly a quarter (23%) are themselves military veterans. Only 10% are under age 30. White? Nope. Male? Yep. "Financially well-off?" Wow- a household income of $50,000 or more is considered well off? I'm there, but I guess they don't realize how much I owe. (Pew says if you make over $75,000, you're "wealthy." Well, at least until you pay all your taxes. Then you're less than "financially well-off.")

Lifestyle Notes
59% report having a gun in their homes; 53% trade stocks and bonds in the stock market, and 30% are small business owners - all of which are the highest percentages among typology groups. 48% attend church weekly; 36% attend bible study or prayer group meetings.
2004 ElectionBush 92%, Kerry 1%. Bush's most reliable supporters (just 4% of Enterprisers did not vote) No guns, but I don't oppose others having them. Personal choice. No stocks or bonds, but I'm working on that. Maybe I'm waiting to be more financially well off. Owned a business at one time. Attend church. I'd like to study my bible more. And I definitely voted. (For guess who?)

Party ID
81% Republican, 18% Independent/No Preference, 1% Democrat (98% Rep/LeanRep) Media UseEnterprisers follow news about government and politics more closely than any other group, and exhibit the most knowledge about world affairs. The Fox News Channel is their primary source of news (46% cite it as a main source) followed by newspapers (42%) radio (31%) and the internet (26%). Cue the imperial theme music- FOX NEWS! And yet "we" still exhibit the MOST knowledge about world affairs. I'm sure those of you on the political left would dispute that. I, however, am stuck with newspapers, radio, and the internet. Mt family doesn't watch enough TV to justify cable or satellite. But when I did have cable, Fox News, CNN, CNBC MSNBC and C-Span were my staple.And I am definitely engaged and knowledgeable...

So this wasn't a terrible description of my basic political beliefs. Conservative. Plus well educated. Knowledgeable. Politically engaged. Not white or "extremely partisan," but I am half Irish (a recent discovery) and a I agree with Republicans a heck of a lot more that the Democrats. Hey- I may have grown up in Nebraska, but I'm no Chuck Hagel.

But here is my problem with this online survey. Whenever you decide to put political labels on somebody based on a series of just 25 questions, you have to examine the questions and you also have to figure out which questions and answers generate the particular political label you get.

For example, when I read the descriptions of the different "typology groups" that this particular Pew study uses as labels, I felt that I most stongly identified with the group labeled UPBEATS.

Upbeat A nice "upbeat" name.

Upbeats represent 11 percent of the American public, and 13 percent of registered voters.

Basic Description
Upbeats express positive views about the economy, government and society. Satisfied with their own financial situation and the direction the nation is heading, these voters support George W. Bush's leadership in economic matters more than on social or foreign policy issues. Combining highly favorable views of government with equally positive views of business and the marketplace, Upbeats believe that success is in people's own hands, and that businesses make a positive contribution to society. This group also has a very favorable view of immigrants. Now THIS is me. I think the economic rebound that our country is going through is one of the most underreported stories of the year. When you compare 2005 to 1997 you might be shocked how the corresponding economic numbers favor the current year (something you'd never know from the MSM unless you carefully watch the economic reports. Just ask Jayson at Polipundit. Lorie too.) Plus, I truly believe that our government works the way it is supposed to, but also understand that people determine their fate in spite of what government does. And immigrants- legal immigrants generally bring talents, skills, and ambition that most Americans should appreciate and emulate. (Though I think illegal immigration is the achilles heel of the current administration, as well as the previous administration.)

Defining Values
Very favorable views of government performance and responsiveness defines the group, along with similarly positive outlook on the role of business in society. While most support the war in Iraq, Upbeats have mixed views on foreign policy - but most favor preemptive military action against countries that threaten the U.S. Religious, but decidedly moderate in views about social and cultural issues. That's me. I don't even have to elaborate.

Who They Are
Relatively young (26% are under 30) and well-educated, Upbeats are the second wealthiest group after Enterprisers (39% have household incomes of $75,000 or more). The highest proportion of Catholics (30%) and white mainline Protestants (28%) of all groups, although fewer than half (46%) attend church weekly. Mostly white (87%), suburban, and married, they are evenly split between men and women. 41 is still young (besides, 74% are over 30), and though I have made plenty in income some years (enough to be in the 39%), wealth is relative. My true wealth is my family. Mainline protestant (grew up in a black Episcopal church, but I'm in Minnesota now and hangin' with the Lutherans.) And the suburban and married fit just right.

Lifestyle Notes
High rate of stock ownership (42%, 2nd after Enterprisers). Dang! I gotta work on that stock thing!

2004 Election
Bush 63%, Kerry 14%. Yep! But I know people like me who voted for Kerry.

Party ID
56% Independent/No Preference, 39% Republican, 5% Democrat (73% Rep/LeanRep)
Media UseUpbeats are second only to Liberals in citing the internet as their main news source (34% compared with 23% nationwide); 46% also cite newspapers. No more or less engaged in politics than the national average. I was an Independent from 1982 to 1998 when I first registered as a Republican. I have voted for Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Dole, and Bush II twice. Most of my news comes from the internet and newspapers (which I also read online) though I am quite engaged in politics.

So how is it that I feel that I am best described as one of the Upbeats more than the more reliably Republican, most conservative group? ( Not even mentioning The Social Conservatives and Pro-Government Conservatives, with whom I also share some traits.) How is it that Rogue ends up in a catagory called Conservative Democrats who are described as "less extreme (there's that word again) on moral beliefs that core Republican groups." I had a hunch.

I did a quick little experiment on Pew's online survey to see what it would take to change my given catagory. Rather than change my answers to any of the 25 survey questions I went to the bottom of the survey and made some changes to how I classify myself- Democrat/Republican, Conservative/Liberal. The results were interesting.

In my original results I checked Conservative and Strong Republican and got the Enterpriser label. However, without changing a single answer to the survey and just changing how I catagorize myself to "Independent" and "Moderate" my label jumped from the most Repubilcan Enterpriser label (which is fine with me) skipping over the other two "conservative" catagories to the more upbeat Upbeat. Now HOW does THAT work. Shouldn't your answers to the questions determine your catagory?

So I tried a few more combinations. I tried Moderate and Strong Republican. Enterpriser. I tried Moderate and Republican. Enterpriser. Moderate, Lean Republican. Enterpriser. Liberal and Republican, Strong Republican or Lean Republican? Enterpriser. Only the Very Liberal and Lean Republican combination changed my result from the Enterpriser label to, lo and behold- UPBEAT.

O.K. Fine. Try something else. Independent and Very Conservative. Enterpriser. Same with Independent and Conservative or Lean Conservative.

Hmm. People with my answers can't even identify with conservatives or Republicans and be anything but an Enterpriser. Let's go the other way.

No- let's not. Every combination of Moderate/Liberal/Very Liberal and Independent/Lean Democrat/Democrat/Strong Democrat yielded me a label of UPBEAT. Lean Democrat/Democrat/Strong Democrat and any version of Conservative? Conservative Democrat.

So let's get this straight. The only way to get to the catagory I think I should be in is to deny that I am any form of Republican or Conservative. Ain't happening. I'll just stick to being an Enterpriser. (I guess that is the "extremely partisan" part of me.)

By the way- when you take the test? Don't ever be satisfied with the label. Just keep being you!