social issues

[sgeeeee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tawny Dangle . . . I read somewhere that our inclination to be either conservative or liberal is probably inherited, along with most aspects of personality. . .

The problem with that theory is that I know people from the same family (same parents) who are complete opposites on political views. I also know many people who change political perspective dramatically at some later point in their life.

Back when I took a course on voter behavior (many years ago), the sociologists and political scientists claimed that about 2/3 of US voters were unswerving in their devotion to a single party. It broke down approximately evenly between Dems and Reps. Actually Dems had a decided advantage, but higher voter apathy. So actual voting tended to be equally split between these groups. But about 1/3 of the voters switched their allegiance often. The results of this poll don't seem that far out of line with those results.

[ladelfina]

Quote:

people who change political perspective dramatically at some later point in their life

Yep, don't they say a Republican is a Democrat who's had his wallet stolen?

You have to also look at the different axes (social liberalism/conservatism vs. economic lib./conserv.) as did one of the political "quantification" quizzes: http://politicalcompass.org/index

I had a pretty conservative dad, and that got me started out.. in opposition. Maybe if he'd been a hippie I've been a Young Conservative, who knows?* * My sister, OTOH keeps moving rightward! I think it's somewhat based on fear, and also the fact she has two young kids -- she's fried, and responds to the emotional components.

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I can't say my mind has been changed by the forum, but as someone else said, my horizons have been broadened, and I've stood corrected on occasion.* I know some folks can do without the political discussions here, but I find them valuable; I check out a number of political sites (both left and right) and you tend to find just the "true believers." Here there are people from a range of political complexions and I appreciate that! I know some people say "I just want financial info" but money and choices are SO tied up in economics, which of course leads to politics, that it's hard not to have opinions about things one way or the other.

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Sibling update:* ESCALATION.
2000-2002 she sends me links to Andrew Sullivan
2002-2004 llinks to the National Review
2004-2006 links to Hugh Hewitt
September 10, 2006: link to Michelle Malkin

It's official! She's jumped the shark.

[HFWR]

Wha?? No Ann Coulter? :

[astromeria]

Ann Coulter: proof that hair bleach destroys minds! And somebody feeed that beast--she looks half-starved, reminds me of a neglected mutt, all snarls and whimpers.

[LRS]

Guess I haven't caught Ann Coulter at her best. The only time I saw her on TV, she was looking pretty wild--big weird hardo, wide staring eyes, etc.--and she was accusing the widows of WTC attack of hogging the limelight. Flecks of lather were flying out of her mouth ...

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa Those who truly wish to persuade generally succeed by introducing new information to the debate, or weaving a tight logical argument that just makes sense.

So far this hasn't worked for me on here............but I am still trying..............