The progressive left and their allies in the establishment media have a way of convincing the public that their beliefs are mainstream. They have to be given credit; they are masters at deceiving Americans into believing that leftist ideology is commonly accepted by the masses. But is it true?

A recent study demonstrates that the far left’s influence, while considerable, is not as widespread as they would have us believe. According to the study, the majority of Americans reject one of the fundamental tenets of progressive dogma: Political correctness.

Americans Dislike Political Correctness

Progressive cultural totalitarianism has claimed many a victim on the right, and even on the left. The founder of Papa John’s Pizza lost his position for violating the PC code. The same happened to comedian Roseanne Barr after an ill-informed, Ambien-fueled tweet mocking Valerie Jarrett.

But it appears that Americans might not be as obsessed with PC culture as many might believe. The study, titled “Hidden Tribes: A Study of America’s Polarized Landscape,” delves into the attitudes of the American public regarding political correctness.

The study separates people into different groups based on political ideology. These include: “Progressive activists, traditional liberals, passive liberals, the politically disengaged, moderates, traditional conservatives, and devoted conservatives.” According to the report, 80% of the population believes that “political correctness is a problem in our country.” This attitude is shared by Americans of all races, ages, and genders.

When looking at the opinions of Americans of different races, the results do not differ greatly in their opposition to political correctness. The results break down as follows:

• 79% of Whites.
• 82% of Asians.
• 87% of Hispanics.
• 75% of Blacks.

This study represents a devastating blow to the progressive narrative, which contends that only virulent bigots do not embrace PC culture. If this study is any indication, America is chock-full of hateful people, right?

What’s Wrong with Political Correctness?

Many have assumed that the notion of political correctness merely meant demonstrating a sensitivity to certain groups of people. Simply put, some suppose that being politically correct means “not being a jerk.” But the true origin of political correctness is far more insidious. The term was first used in the early 20^th century when Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks ascended to power in Russia.

They promoted the virtue of being ideologically correct, which mean that having honest debate about issues was discouraged. Conversation was jettisoned in favor of making sure that particular individuals were not offended.

In America, it did not take long for the left to adopt this new rhetorical weapon. By expanding the definition of political correctness, they now label anyone who dares to express uncomfortable views as bigots.

In the name of political correctness, progressives have taken the struggle against racism to an irrational extreme. Whereas Americans largely rejected actual displays of racist views, the left has widened the scope of what constitutes racism. Now, simply pointing out that half of the country’s homicides are committed by black men against other black men is seen as bigoted.

PC culture is nothing more than a political tool that progressives use to coerce and shame their political opponents into remaining silent about their opinions. Instead of using guns like their political ancestors, the Bolsheviks, they use rhetoric and language to impose their leftist theology on others.

The Death of PC Culture?

As usual, in their bid to use political correctness to cow Americans into obedience, progressives have overplayed their hand. By taking the idea to such an extreme, they have alienated those who might have been more open to their views. Over the last decade, there have been several movements that opposed PC culture. The Tea Party, libertarians, and classical liberals decry the problems inherent in political correctness.

The fear of to have transformed into anger and resentment. Americans — even those who are not particularly political — understand that the ability to express one’s views is essential to the success of a free society. Indeed, freedom of expression is one of the foundational principles upon which the United States was founded. It should be no surprise that 80% of Americans view political correctness as a problem — its current iteration is in direct opposition of our most deeply-held values.