What's Your Tribe?

Political commentators insist that the nation is a collection of "red states" (Republican) and "blue states" (Democrat). The reality is that America is a collection of tribes ?‚?– communities of people who run in similar lifestyle circles irrespective of state, county, and precinct lines. Because your political impulses are strongly influenced by those around you, the best way to judge whether you belong to the Red Tribe (Republican), Blue Tribe (Democrat) or Tipping Tribe (swing voter) is to understand your lifestyle choices, not by issue or the state you live in.

You're at the counter of your local convenience store and have an extra dollar in change. You:

  • Save it for a rainy day
  • Buy a lottery ticket cause you're feeling lucky

At a picnic with friends, you open a cooler full of soft drinks and reach for the:

  • Dr. Pepper
  • Sprite or Pepsi

You've won the jackpot on a game show and have a choice between two kinds of vehicles. You select the:

  • Audi
  • Saab

A free subscription to one of the following two magazines is offered to you. Which one do you choose?

  • US News & World Report
    • magazine
  • TV Guide

You're headed out to buy some groceries. You are most likely to visit:

  • A superstore like Wal-Mart or large supermarket such as Kroger
  • Whole Foods or similar organic grocer

You're at a cocktail party, and the only choices are gin, bourbon, scotch and vodka. Which liquor do you choose?

  • Bourbon or Scotch
  • Gin or vodka

If we opened your refrigerator, it is more likely that we would find which brand of bottled water:

  • Ozarka or local brand
  • Evian or Dannon

You're at happy hour and there is a special on domestic beer. Which do you choose?

  • Coors
  • Bud

Which special event would you be more inclined to attend?

  • Monster Truck Show
  • Pro Wrestling Match

If we checked your Internet history, it would more likely show that you had visited:

  • An auction site, like eBay
  • A dating site, like Match.com

Nothing is on network TV you are interested in, so you click through cable, do you:

  • Stop on the Discovery Channel
  • Tune in to Court TV

Between the following sporting events, which would you more likely watch?

  • X Games or college football
  • U. S. Open Tennis or Major League Soccer