Re: Question on public choice theory

["Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>]

> Public choice theory suggests that people vote with their pocketbooks.
> How would they explain that more educated people have more liberal
> voting preferences?

as others have suggested, the word "liberal" is ambiguous. I would guess that all else constant, higher-income people are more "liberal" on "social issues" such as abortion, gay marriage, etc. But on issues that affect their incomes or the value of their homes, I'd guess that (all else constant) they are less "liberal." The latter fits with the Buchanan/Tulloch/etc. version of "public choice." 

It's like the "liberal media" issue: the US media is "liberal" on feminist issues and the like, but not so on unionism, corporate globalization, etc. 

Jim D.