by jpitney | Nov 18, 2023 | Civility, Polarization
John Farmer, Jr. at The Messenger: The development of social media platforms has put the Citizens United principle on steroids. Such platforms became profitable only when they began to deploy algorithms that use commercial advertising principles to amplify every...
by jpitney | Sep 25, 2023 | Free Speech, Polarization, Public Opinion, Uncategorized
At RealClearPolitics, Carl Cannon reports on a new survey: Traditionally, opposing censorship — whether imposed by government or corporations — was a bedrock principle of liberalism in this country. The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 to promote and...
by jpitney | Jul 12, 2023 | House of Representatives, Polarization, Uncategorized
Donald Wolfensberger at The Hill: In 2008, David E. Kyvig, a professor of history at Northern Illinois University, published “The Age of Impeachment: American Constitutional Culture Since 1960.” In his preface, Kyvig says the purpose of the book is to answer “why...
by jpitney | Jul 10, 2023 | Campaign Finance, Crime, Polarization
Polarization and partisan animosity provide an opportunity for scam artists to make money — sometimes from both sides at once. Laura J. Nelson reports at LAT Two Californians set up a pair of political action committees, called the Liberty Action Group and the...
by jpitney | Jul 2, 2023 | Polarization, Public Opinion
Daniel A. Cox and Ruy Teixeira at the Survey Center on American Life: Few partisans perceive their party as embracing extreme ideological positions. Nearly three-quarters of Republicans believe the Republican Party is ideologically conservative, but only 22 percent...
by jpitney | Apr 27, 2023 | Civility, Polarization, Public Opinion, Social Media
From the American Bar Association: A massive 85% of U.S. residents believe civility is worse compared to 10 years ago, and a majority believe social media and media are to blame, according to the fifth annual American Bar Association Survey of Civic Literacy. Nearly a...
