Where Partisan Divisions Are Largest Social safety net 39 41
On some sets of issues, such as views of the social safety net, there already were sizable partisan gaps in Pew Research’s first political values study in 1987. But these differences have widened considerably. On others, such as measures of religiosity and social conservatism, there were only modest differences initially, but these divides also have grown.
Where Partisan Divisions Are  | Largest  | 1987 w2012  | Social safety net  | 23  | 39 41  | Environment*  | Labor unions  | 20  | 37  | 33 33  | Equal opportunity  | Govt scope & perf  | Immigration*  | 24  | 24  | Business  | 16  | Personal efficacy  | 14  | 20  | 15 17  | Social conservatism  | Religiosity  | Personal finance  | 14 15 15  | National security  | 12  | Optimism  | Govt responsiveness  | 10  | Political engagement  | PEW differences RESEARCH CENTER 2012 Values Study, Bars show the  | differences indices be tween based Republicans and Democrats questions across 15  | differences va lues indices tween based Republicans on began related survey and Democrats questions  | 2002 Environment ind ex began in 1992, immigration indexin  | 2002 