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5 things to know on polarized politics in the US

By WTOP Staff

JENNIFER AGIESTA
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Partisan and ideological polarization has grown dramatically in the last two decades, according to a survey of more than 10,000 Americans conducted by the Pew Research Center. A look at five findings that help explain the nation’s political fissures:

PARTY UNITY INCREASINGLY IDEOLOGICAL

Over the past 20 years, the share of Americans holding ideologically pure views has doubled, from 10 percent in 1994 to 21 percent now, according to the survey. And ideology is now more closely aligned with partisanship. Those holding strictly liberal or strictly conservative views across a battery of 10 issue questions now make up around 20 percent of each major party, and majorities in each now express views that are mostly one way.

POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT

The numbers of ideological purists are larger among the politically engaged than the general public, suggesting the ideological stalemates that have become more common in Washington and statehouses around the country are likely to continue. A third of those who say they regularly vote in primaries have all-or-nothing ideological views, as do 41 percent who say they have donated money to a campaign. Likewise, among partisans, the most politically engaged are also most likely to take an acrimonious view of the opposing party and denounce compromise, heightening pressure on elected officials to avoid cooperation across the aisle.

THE SHRINKING MIDDLE

About 4 in 10 of those surveyed held a nearly even mix of liberal and conservative views, down from about half in 1994. But lack of consistency doesn’t necessarily translate to lack of conviction. Sizable minorities within this group hold what could be considered ideologically extreme views. For example, 3 in 10 who hold a mix of liberal and conservative views generally take a hard line on abortion: 16 percent say it should be legal in every circumstance, 14 percent that it should always be illegal.

ISSUES AND IDEOLOGUES

Even among those on the ends of the ideological scale, who hold either consistently liberal or conservative positions generally, there is some nuance to their viewpoint. Among consistent liberals, 81 percent support limits on gun ownership, yet just 16 percent say only law enforcement officers should have guns. Likewise, though 96 percent of consistent conservatives prioritize protecting gun rights over restricting them, just 34 percent said there should be no ownership restrictions at all. Immigration seems an exception on the right, with more than 8 in 10 consistent conservatives who oppose a path to citizenship saying the government should make an effort to deport immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. For consistent liberals, the only issue in the survey that comes close is health care, where 6 in 10 who see health insurance as a government responsibility say there ought to be a single-payer program.

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

The polarization dominating politics now extends to everyday life, with shared political views a priority for many in their social lives and neighborhoods. Two-thirds of consistent conservatives and half of consistent liberals say most of their close friends share their political views. And one-quarter of consistent liberals say they’d be unhappy if an immediate family member married a Republican, 30 percent of consistent conservatives say the same about a union with a Democrat. Three in 10 on each side say it’s important to them to live in a place where most people share their political views. Even beyond a neighborhood’s political character, conservatives and liberals prioritize different lifestyles, with liberals more apt to favor a walkable city and conservatives favoring space and privacy.

The findings are based on a telephone survey of 10,013 randomly-selected adults nationwide, conducted between Jan. 23 and March 16, 2014. Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.

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Online:

Pew Research Center: http://www.pewresearch.org

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Follow Jennifer Agiesta on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JennAgiesta

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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