Voting data in 2024 US election according to education level.

[rambot]

Some posters have commented on the malaise of your education system producing indoctrinated lower skilled individuals.
You can't infer this from the figures as people have obtained their qualifications over a broad time span, unless the malaise goes back decades.
Since I am not a citizen of your country and have not been through your college education system I will not make any comments on it.

If the data is broken down to college educated vs non college educated republicans there are some interesting areas of polarization particularly on cultural issues.

Category​	College Educated Republicans​	Non College Educated Republicans​
Economic Concerns​	48% cited inflation and economic stability as top priorities.​	55% cited inflation, with strong emphasis on local job protection.​
Cultural Issues​	38% prioritized traditional values (e.g., family, religion).​	61% prioritized strong traditional values.​
Climate Policy​	31% supported moderate environmental policies.​	15% placed low priority on climate issues.​
Immigration​	42% supported balanced immigration reform.​	64% favored strict immigration control.​
Foreign Policy​	36% favored international cooperation.​	54% prioritized a more isolationist, American-focused policy.​

This one genuinely puzzles me, Evangelicals are the least educated group when it comes to college degrees and are a strong supporter base for the GOP, yet Trump is not exactly a shining example of strong traditional values.
It is either the case of "the enemy (Trump) of my enemy (Democrats) is my friend" or a denial of Trump's record.

I think a lot of people feel pressured to say they believe in strong traditional values when, in fact, they don't. It makes people feel self righteous to think that about themselves. But when their behaviour does not match up with their words, then you have to decide.

When I worked in a youth treatment centre and kids would go AWOL, I've had a lot of conversations with people that sounded basically like "what people truly want is shown with their hands, feet and body. What they want you to believe is what comes out of their mouth". Sometimes those aligned and sometimes not.

 

[Zaha Torte]

But you have 0 way to ascertain beyond your own prejudices, what another person's motivation would be.

Just correlate polling data with the flips and the flops.

 

[Astrid]

An interesting statistic in the 2024 US election was voting polarization based on education level which was even greater than gender (Women 57% Democrat, 42% Republican, Men 46% Democrat, 53% Republican).

Education Level​	Democratic Support​	Republican Support​	Key Observations​
College Degree (Bachelor’s or Higher)​	61%​	37%​	Strong Democratic support, especially among postgraduate degree holders EL PAÍS English Pew Research Center​
No College Degree​	33%​	63%​	Predominantly Republican support, especially among White voters without a degree​ Pew Research Center​

So why the divide, an explanation given is that educated voters tended to on prioritize issues like climate change, diversity, social equality, and international cooperation and found Trump’s often polarizing language on social media and in campaign rallies off-putting.

Do you think having a college degree means someone is educated?

 

[sjastro]

Do you think having a college degree means someone is educated?

A college educated person irrespective of whether it is in the field of STEM or humanities would hopefully have better developed critical thinking skills as education is not only about acquiring knowledge.

 

[Astrid]

A college educated person irrespective of whether it is in the field of STEM or humanities would hopefully have better developed critical thinking skills as education is not only about acquiring knowledge.

That may be what’s hoped for. But
its not how college students get beliefs
about socialism, diversity etc.
its more like osmosis.

College degree = educated with well developed
thinking skill, in anything, just isn’t so.*

I expect you’ve prowled the ivied halls
more than long enough to know that.

* if the E of STEM worked there wouldn’t be so many
yec fundamentalists among them.

 

[sjastro]

That may be what’s hoped for. But
its not how college students get beliefs
about socialism, diversity etc.
its more like osmosis.

College degree = educated with well developed
thinking skill, in anything, just isn’t so.*

I expect you’ve prowled the ivied halls
more than long enough to know that.

* if the E of STEM worked there wouldn’t be so many
yec fundamentalists among them.

You are referring to the exception rather than the rule.
Even amongst Republicans there was polarization between college degree and no college degree on various issues (ref Post #15).
College educated people view the world somewhat differently.

 

[Astrid]

You are referring to the exception rather than the rule.
Even amongst Republicans there was polarization between college degree and no college degree on various issues (ref Post #15).
College educated people view the world somewhat differently.

And that view is generally absorbed from the culture Iof the institution.

American colleges are mostly of a certain cultural sort. See osmosis.

I see little in the current politics of the American left that resembles sophistication.

I’m curious why you specified (“ even”) republicans instead of everyone
who tend to view the uneducated a certain way.

 

[Astrid]

Some posters have commented on the malaise of your education system producing indoctrinated lower skilled individuals.
You can't infer this from the figures as people have obtained their qualifications over a broad time span, unless the malaise goes back decades.
Since I am not a citizen of your country and have not been through your college education system I will not make any comments on it.

If the data is broken down to college educated vs non college educated republicans there are some interesting areas of polarization particularly on cultural issues.

Category​	College Educated Republicans​	Non College Educated Republicans​
Economic Concerns​	48% cited inflation and economic stability as top priorities.​	55% cited inflation, with strong emphasis on local job protection.​
Cultural Issues​	38% prioritized traditional values (e.g., family, religion).​	61% prioritized strong traditional values.​
Climate Policy​	31% supported moderate environmental policies.​	15% placed low priority on climate issues.​
Immigration​	42% supported balanced immigration reform.​	64% favored strict immigration control.​
Foreign Policy​	36% favored international cooperation.​	54% prioritized a more isolationist, American-focused policy.​

This one genuinely puzzles me, Evangelicals are the least educated group when it comes to college degrees and are a strong supporter base for the GOP, yet Trump is not exactly a shining example of strong traditional values.
It is either the case of "the enemy (Trump) of my enemy (Democrats) is my friend" or a denial of Trump's record.

The economics one is pretty much a tie.
Immigration, I can’t tell what’s compared
values though..I expect religion Esp of a fundy chridtian sort
isvthe big one, and real or perceived assaults in their chosen views.

Do you see as a takeaway that being educated doesn’t go with being
an evangelical?

 

[sjastro]

And that view is generally absorbed from the culture Iof the institution.

American colleges are mostly of a certain cultural sort. See osmosis.

I see little in the current politics of the American left that resembles sophistication.

I’m curious why you specified (“ even”) republicans instead of everyone
who tend to view the uneducated a certain way.

The facts speak for themselves college educated people including Republicans have different voting intentions.

This is not exclusively an American issue either but reflects a trend in democracies.
BREXIT was a prime example where the Tories and Labour party were split on remaining or exitting the EU, and when the voting analysis came out there was a clear divide between college and non college voters.
Non college voters were more likely to be influenced by populist and nationalistic ideas very similar to how Trump campaigned.

 

[sjastro]

The economics one is pretty much a tie.
Immigration, I can’t tell what’s compared
values though..I expect religion Esp of a fundy chridtian sort
isvthe big one, and real or perceived assaults in their chosen views.

Do you see as a takeaway that being educated doesn’t go with being
an evangelical?

Do you think it's only a coincidence that evangelicals have the highest percentage of non college educated which is statistically significant compared to other Christian denominations were a strong supporter base for Trump?

 

[rambot]

It feels like a tired trope when people argue that just becsuse you have a degree doesn't mean you are educated.

If you were a thoughtful learner engaged with school work absolutely you will change. If you're content to kegstand and sleep then you aren't really going to college anyways.

I would posit the biggest difference is that university helpes teach people to understand good sources and bad sources more than not. And rhe idea that having a mind open is good but bad if it's at both ends.

 

[Astrid]

The facts speak for themselves college educated people including Republicans have different voting intentions.

This is not exclusively an American issue either but reflects a trend in democracies.
BREXIT was a prime example where the Tories and Labour party were split on remaining or exitting the EU, and when the voting analysis came out there was a clear divide between college and non college voters.
Non college voters were more likely to be influenced by populist and nationalistic ideas very similar to how Trump campaigned.

We are talking about somewhat different things, but finally hashed out as I don’t feel like
doing would probably be to find 90 plus the percent the same view.

A lasting difference might be in what I see as an overestimation of the thinking
skill imparted by the average college degree

 

[Tropical Wilds]

And now we see why the Republican Party is so intent to create as many barriers to education, especially college education, as absolutely possible. An ignorant populace is one ripe for subjugation.

 

[Zaha Torte]

Do you think having a college degree means someone is educated?

Not necessarily. Indoctrinated surely.

 

[essentialsaltes]

This pretty much represents a U-turn from 50 years ago, although I think the division now is probably more extreme. Democrats were joe six-pack union worker out of high school. Republicans were Bill Buckley.

And yet, at the top of the GOP, of course, you still have the moneyed educated elites. President billionaire and his Yale Law veep.

I wonder how the net worth of Trump's Second cabinet will compare to the first go-round.

If the nominees are confirmed, Trump's second cabinet will break the record set by his first cabinet.

What is net worth of Trump's Cabinet? The staggering wealth of his nominees revealed​

Donald Trump is on course to assemble the richest cabinet in American history, with a number of billionaires sending its total net worth soaring over $9 billion

The previous mark was unsurprisingly set by Trump in 2016 when his first cabinet boasted a combined net worth of $6 billion.

In comparison, the total net worth of Joe Biden's cabinet amounted to a paltry $120 million, according to Forbes.

[This doesn't include Musk, since DOGE is not a real government thing. Obviously if he were included, the net worth would be Musk's net worth + a few percentage point rounding error]

 

[Zaha Torte]

If the nominees are confirmed, Trump's second cabinet will break the record set by his first cabinet.

What is net worth of Trump's Cabinet? The staggering wealth of his nominees revealed​

Donald Trump is on course to assemble the richest cabinet in American history, with a number of billionaires sending its total net worth soaring over $9 billion

The previous mark was unsurprisingly set by Trump in 2016 when his first cabinet boasted a combined net worth of $6 billion.

In comparison, the total net worth of Joe Biden's cabinet amounted to a paltry $120 million, according to Forbes.

[This doesn't include Musk, since DOGE is not a real government thing. Obviously if he were included, the net worth would be Musk's net worth + a few percentage point rounding error]

So?

 

[Michael Z]

I have a BS in Paper Science, BAS in Teaching Secondary Math, and a MS in Applied Math. But I am now convinced that a 4 yr degree in a secular university is NOT an option for Christian young adults anymore. Unfortunately, my two oldest did go that route and have abandoned any pursuit of faith, but I am confident that the prayers of myself and others will bring them back.. My other 3 children, going the Vo-Tech route are very strong in their faith and identify themselves as Born Again.

Yes, it is indoctrination! And I know this for a fact as I taught math in a community-technical college for 29 years until 2021 and even though the math area was still "safe", I saw so much indoctrination in the Liberal Arts 2-yr Degree that was used for continuation in a 4 yr degree. The technical programs at the college, however, were still quite excellent in preparing students for a career. My youngest son completed the nursing program as an RN.

 

[essentialsaltes]

So?

Trump has assembled an uber-wealthy Cabinet, raising risks of ethics conflicts​

President-elect Trump is stacking his cabinet with billionaires and centi-millionaires, whose financial entanglements pose conflict of interest challenges.

“It is hard to see how a Cabinet made up largely of the very, very wealthiest of Americans is going to have an understanding of what the needs of regular Americans are,” he said.

But the Cabinet selections are an early test of Trump’s ability to unite a transformed Republican Party, where the goals of populists who say they are focused on elevating the working class can clash with those of the business leaders and wealthy donors who have long shaped the party’s policies.

“People in government take a cue from the top,” he said. “This time around, Donald Trump, is not — at least as of now — even making a show of addressing his own conflicts of interest.”

So if citizens are concerned about educated moneyed elites buying the government they want, they should be concerned about the educated moneyed elites buying the Cabinet posts they want.

 

[Zaha Torte]

Trump has assembled an uber-wealthy Cabinet, raising risks of ethics conflicts​

President-elect Trump is stacking his cabinet with billionaires and centi-millionaires, whose financial entanglements pose conflict of interest challenges.

“It is hard to see how a Cabinet made up largely of the very, very wealthiest of Americans is going to have an understanding of what the needs of regular Americans are,” he said.

But the Cabinet selections are an early test of Trump’s ability to unite a transformed Republican Party, where the goals of populists who say they are focused on elevating the working class can clash with those of the business leaders and wealthy donors who have long shaped the party’s policies.

“People in government take a cue from the top,” he said. “This time around, Donald Trump, is not — at least as of now — even making a show of addressing his own conflicts of interest.”

So if citizens are concerned about educated moneyed elites buying the government they want, they should be concerned about the educated moneyed elites buying the Cabinet posts they want.

I still don't get it. Why does people having money mean they are not good picks?

 

[essentialsaltes]

I still don't get it. Why does people having money mean they are not good picks?

Headline doesn't say they're bad; headline says they raise risks of ethical conflicts. Whose general welfare will they seek to promote? The American people's or their own; how will they ethically dance that line when they are personally involved? Take for example...

The barely billionaire half of DOGE has come out against federal subsidies to electric car makers not named Tesla, which is owned by the centi-billionaire half of DOGE.

That half of DOGE also owns SpaceX, which receives huge contracts from NASA.

Trump's pick for NASA is another billionaire, Jared Isaacman, who has hired SpaceX for his own personal space launches.

Will Musk find some cost-cutting to be done in the NASA budget for SpaceX launches? Will he tell his friend and business partner who heads NASA to send fewer taxpayer dollars his way? SpaceX has done successful launches, should it get 5% more this year, or maybe 8%?

Will Musk be hiring out of work coal miners to help SpaceX grow? Or do the unemployed coal miners get new work requirements to earn their food stamps, so we can save a little money by not feeding some of them?