Why Americans Vote ‘Against Their Interest’

Why Americans Vote ‘Against Their Interest’

5/19/2017

link

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/upshot/why-americans-vote-against-their-interest-partisanship.html

summary

This article from The New York Times explores the phenomenon of Americans voting against their own interests due to partisanship. It argues that people's political identity and group affiliation often take precedence over their individual self-interest when it comes to voting. The article suggests that this is partly because individuals feel a strong need to conform to the beliefs and values of their chosen political party. It also discusses how this phenomenon plays out in different policy areas, such as healthcare and economic inequality. The article concludes that understanding the role of partisanship in voters' decision-making is crucial for understanding the dynamics of American politics.

tags

voting behavior ꞏ american politics ꞏ partisan politics ꞏ voter behavior ꞏ political psychology ꞏ political polarization ꞏ voting patterns ꞏ political ideology ꞏ party affiliation ꞏ voting decisions ꞏ voter psychology ꞏ public opinion ꞏ political socialization ꞏ political beliefs ꞏ voting trends ꞏ party loyalty ꞏ election analysis ꞏ political science ꞏ political campaigns ꞏ political participation ꞏ voter turnout ꞏ voting preferences ꞏ voting motivation ꞏ political sociology ꞏ political culture ꞏ democratic process ꞏ political parties ꞏ political identity ꞏ rational choice theory ꞏ political attitudes ꞏ voting rights ꞏ political engagement ꞏ political behavior ꞏ democratic citizenship ꞏ political division ꞏ voting system ꞏ political discourse ꞏ democratic values ꞏ political education ꞏ political trust ꞏ political influence ꞏ political power ꞏ voter information ꞏ democratic accountability ꞏ political inequality ꞏ democratic representation