PUBLIC OPINION > Don't Talk Politics at Work
SodaHead Living
2012/09/11 20:00:00
With the presidential election just a couple months away, political conversations are almost unavoidable. But is it ever inappropriate to engage in political discourse? What about the workplace? Is that simply an exercise in free speech and open communication, or a recipe for disaster? We asked the public if it's OK to talk politics at work.
Open political discussion is essential in a democratic country, but about two-thirds of people think that bringing it into the workplace is a bad idea. Most people agree that there's a fine line between a discussion and an argument, but with a topic as volatile as politics, a calm discussion could very quickly turn sour. Some spoke from experience. It could turn out fine, but it's usually not worth the risk.
Mind the Moderates
Conservatives and liberals voted similarly on this issue -- 40% and 37% were OK with workplace discussions, respectively -- but voters who fell in the middle were less than enthused. Only 22% of moderates think it's OK to discuss politics at work. It would follow that people who call themselves moderates are less confrontational.
Men Might Go for It
Men were a bit more likely to condone politics in the workplace. Since men are typically a little more competitive, it would make sense that they're more eager or willing to get into it over healthcare and the economy, but ultimately it was only an 11% difference -- about a third of men, compared to about a quarter of women.
Age Is Not an Issue
There weren't actually that many other demographics that seemed to correlate with response. In fact, the age group most willing to talk politics at work (45-54) was only a few years older than the age group least willing to talk politics at work (35-44). Teens were more willing than most, though not by much.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about politics in the workplace. We'd love to hear from you!
Mind the Moderates
Conservatives and liberals voted similarly on this issue -- 40% and 37% were OK with workplace discussions, respectively -- but voters who fell in the middle were less than enthused. Only 22% of moderates think it's OK to discuss politics at work. It would follow that people who call themselves moderates are less confrontational.Men Might Go for It
Men were a bit more likely to condone politics in the workplace. Since men are typically a little more competitive, it would make sense that they're more eager or willing to get into it over healthcare and the economy, but ultimately it was only an 11% difference -- about a third of men, compared to about a quarter of women.Age Is Not an Issue
There weren't actually that many other demographics that seemed to correlate with response. In fact, the age group most willing to talk politics at work (45-54) was only a few years older than the age group least willing to talk politics at work (35-44). Teens were more willing than most, though not by much.If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about politics in the workplace. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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twhiting9275 2012/09/11 20:41:00
Well Oklahoma, people outside of it tend to stereotype people from Oklahoma. Especially when they've once lived in the more Conservative parts. I have never really cared about political bias but Liberals in comparison to Conservatives where I live. Especially when I their 40s, care WAY too much about political bias. While Conservatives are not as bad, strangely.
However I think those topics should stay away from work...
How, they will wonder, did a man so devoid of professional accomplishment beguile so many into thinking he could manage the world's largest economy, direct the world's most powerful military, execute the world's most consequential job? Imagine a future historian examining Obama's pre-presidential life: ushered into and through the Ivy League despite unremarkable grades and test scores along the way; a cushy non-job as a "community organizer"; a brief career as a state legislator devoid of legislative achievement (and in fact nearly devoid of his attention, so often did he vote "present") and finally an unaccomplished single term in the United States Senate, the entirety of which was devoted to his presidential ambitions.
He left no academic legacy in academia, authored no signature legislation as a legislator. And then there is the matter of his troubling associations: the white-hating, America-loathing preacher who for decades served as Obama's "spiritual mentor"; a real-life, actual terrorist who served as Obama's colleague and political
sponsor.
It is easy to im...
How, they will wonder, did a man so devoid of professional accomplishment beguile so many into thinking he could manage the world's largest economy, direct the world's most powerful military, execute the world's most consequential job? Imagine a future historian examining Obama's pre-presidential life: ushered into and through the Ivy League despite unremarkable grades and test scores along the way; a cushy non-job as a "community organizer"; a brief career as a state legislator devoid of legislative achievement (and in fact nearly devoid of his attention, so often did he vote "present") and finally an unaccomplished single term in the United States Senate, the entirety of which was devoted to his presidential ambitions.
He left no academic legacy in academia, authored no signature legislation as a legislator. And then there is the matter of his troubling associations: the white-hating, America-loathing preacher who for decades served as Obama's "spiritual mentor"; a real-life, actual terrorist who served as Obama's colleague and political
sponsor.
It is easy to imagine a future historian looking it it all and asking: how on Earth was such a man elected president?'
Edit Add for Max7 since you blocked:
The ethnicity?? What a damn cop out - you blame something he cannot change for his incompetence. Biggest cop out is to say -- they don't like me because my hair is red, or I am too tall, or I am a white male, or I am a girl or I have blue eyes - Never let it enter your mind that you failed, blame something that was true when you took the job and still true today. Obama had more melanin in his skin when he ran, when people voted for him and today -- nothing has changed.
It boils down to the fact that Obama is incompetent - nice guy from all appearances, good husband, loving father, good speaker but in the final analysis is incompetent. Everything in the article above is fact - no way around it. Like the hell outta him, vote for him but realize he is an incompetent failure.
43 months of unemployment above 8% , with hispanics at 10% and blacks at 14.7%; Debt at 16 Trillion dollars - Clinton added 1.5 Trillion in 8 years, Bush added 4.8 Trillion in 8 years and Obama added 5.6 Trillion in under three years; GDP has slid down to now 1.5; food prices have doubled and tripled; gas prices have doubled and tripled; deficits of 1 Trillion and above every year; - we are in deep trouble and he is not the answer now and wasn't in 2008.
I suggest that you are voting on race and that is why you and folks like you bring it up non-stop - it is real racism to select people because of race and then accuse others of racism when they discuss important issues -- stop the racism and think about the nation and its condition. We deserve better than a weak president wallowing in incompetence.