Political pre-disposition views question?
918085
Unlike fashion or other social issues, politics just isn't that high on a young person's list of priorities (there are exceptions, of course), so they just go along with their parents.\n\nThis can change when they go to college, look at the demonstrations of the 60's.\n\nHowever, I believe there is a genetic element to this.  My dad is an old fashioned America First Hard Core Right Winger.  I went through my hippie Liberal phase in college, but lately I've been defending old George W despite the opposition at every turn - It comes from the gut  - I must defend!  Must be a genetic component.
913733
Everything changes. My socio-political views are vastly different than they were before the Viet Nam war.\n\nI prefer to consume information from all points of the political compass rather than be one of the lemmings being preached to by the choir. I get info from Fox News, NBC, ABC, CBS, Christian Science Monitor, PBS...you name it, I'll read it. Then I put it through my BS filter and do my best to get a truer picture than what just one or two news outlets would present. I hate the thought of falling into line on an issue based on political bias.
792298
An interesting range of responses to your loaded and what appears to be a somewhat biased question. I find the conservatives talk about winning, defending the concept of freedom, respecting the honour and sacrifices of troops both American and allies, addressing both the lies and propaganda of both the terrorists and main stream media… the lines of which seem blended, blurred, and sharing a common goal.\n From the less than loyal opposition I see the usual demeaning rhetoric, insinuation, and strained logic and comparisons…the weak straw dog of one that is afraid to explaining their own goals, at least up front and honest. They all champion their mantras that conservatives are parrots repeating…why do the all say that? (Right Elway?) \n And as to comparisons, talk about scare tactics eh michaelsan! I notice you don’t compare the appeasers of WW11 to the Pelosi/Murtha/Kerry philosophy, but contort like a circus freak to work in the leftist’s party line comparing the present administration to the Nazi machine. How about Hillary health care to Leninists socialism…A comparison I can relate to actually.\n Americas left seem to be saying that not defending our republic, appeasing, leaving our troops out to dry like they did in Viet-Nam is their course to regaining power in America…This time the stakes are much higher…The left doesn’t care as long as they can garner power…Even at the cost of America’s Republic!
552538
People have given you specific ideas.  The point is to find something controversial.  I find it best if I select something I feel strongly about and then argue from the opposite side of the issue.  I learn more and I have less tendency to allow my emotions to cloud the paper.\n\nGood Luck on your final.
702504
Just an observation, over a couple of decades. Exit polling seems to skew to the left, partly because democrats seem to want to answer questions about their vote, more than do republicans. As for pre-election polling, the keys there are "sample" and "style" of the question. Both can have a remarkable influence on the results. More generically, I believe pre-election polling skews democrat, because more democrats identify themselves as "independent", and thus, when that portion of the sample is counted, it generally skews the result to the left. You'll note (realclearpolitics.com) that the polls tend to drift back to the middle, as the election nears.
659933
Founders of what? Political thought about what? Your question is so vague, It cannot be answered.
958913
Normally I vote as a Moderate. I like our leaders to be as center as possible. I was attracted to Bush's thought of compassionate Conservatism as it was an idea of moderation. I cannot stand the far left and do not think the far right are any better. Though with the choices at hand and the state of the world today I have to ask myself one question," What sort of world do I want my grandchildren to live in?" Currently, my oldest is 13 years old so I'm talking 20 years down the road. I am voting Republican across the board. The Muslim extremist make it very clear. Their only objective is to convert the world to Islam at the cost of innocent life. The war is really with Iran and the battleground just happens to be in Iraq. They must be defeated or eventually a nuclear bomb will no doubt end up in the hands of terrorists somewhere here in America. The Iranian president says publicly that it his reason for being to facilitate the "true Jihad" and calls for the destruction of Israel and the great Satan of America. It is a time for Conservative leadership at the moment. A day will come when I will vote towards the left. The left attempts to make us think this is their time . I believe otherwise. The stakes are too high. Mistakes have been made, Yes. Yet this is time for a "leader", not a time for someone who really only cares what the polls are saying. Thank You.
67293
Besides many politicians' power lust, 2 general sides, and a few "odd" issues contribute.  Less minor issues like the war, abortion, labor unions, education, and old-fasioned straight ticket voters are all things I would lump into "values voters" for the purpose of this discussion.  They generally decide canidates based on how they will affect just one issue that they see as most important.  But the real culprit is a thing called WORLDVIEW, and there are two major ones that are clashing for control right now.  One, the Conservatives and the other, Liberals (not to be confused with Conservatives and Liberals in Europe).  Conservatives TEND to believe in old absolutes(however sometimes changing a rule is good), and the Liberals TEND to want to move away from the way things have always been done(but sometimes we do need to leave things be).  TO some this might sound trivial, but it involves issues of life and death.  For instance; Liberal thought on life and death says no death penalty, yes to abortion and assisted suicide.  Conservatives say yes to the death penalty, no to abortion and assisted suicide.  If those issues don't get people polorized, then how about tax issues?  \nI won't go into details there, but now I come out with the real deal:  The reason we don't see nearly as much cross-the-party-line cooperation is the prevelence of RELATIVISM:  That is, "whatever I think is right."  THis means that new-schoolers, (liberals) see issues however it pleases them, but ABSOLUTISTS (conservatives) can't leave thier long-established values behind to pursue whatever they want.  We are fast approaching a time when most Relativists will have NO common ground with absolutists.  If Relativism continues to gain hold with society, we will have no basis for self-control.  If I want to kill you, thats OK, because thats what I see as best for me.  If I want to lie and steal from you, thats OK because thats right for me.  And once people say that, there is no reasoning with them.  There is no way a relativist and someone who believes in trascendent values can cooperate under most circumstances.  That is the cause of this polorization.  If you think I'm nuts because you are a relativist, then you just proved my point: there is no way you can agree with me without changing your worldview.
920578
I'm an independent voter and have never belonged to either party - I guess I'm just not a joiner. I've tried to get a handle on liberal vs. conservative labels to see where I stand but there's so much overlap between the two, as well as differences within each label, that I'm not sure these generalizations have any distinct meaning. \n\nDescriptions for liberalism include classical American liberalism, modern American liberalism, and paleoliberalism. Conservatism can be classical, ideological, neoconservatism, paleoconservatism, social conservatism, fiscal conservatism, or libertarianism. Some of these labels, on either side of the semantic fence, seem to share pretty much the same beliefs so, outside of the generalizations made by political parties and the media, there's a good deal of commonality. In addition, it seems both Democrats and Republicans, as well as liberals and conservatives all seem to believe in individual rights, free enterprise, representative democracy, and the rule of law. I have my own issues but neither party nor nor any ideology satisfies me. I guess I'm too particular to let other people do my thinking for me.
982696
I do not usually hug political opponents.  However, I will gladly greet one and discuss matters with him if he is behaving.  Our differences and desire to find common grounds in order to conduct the business of the government is a wonderful thing.
763413
No, these views represent lazy thinking.  These issues take serious thought and often require years of work to do.  In a political climate, people want immediate gratification, and bombing seems like that shortcut.
1118156
I believe you answered your own question!\nExcellent insight into the realities of the current administration!\nThanks for being open minded and seeing things for what they are!
3888
I'm sure in all of us, a little bit of what our parents believe gets into us the offspring. However, no in the end what path you choose is exactly that, your choice. I know of people who have grown up to believe what their parents do, and then totally change the opposite way. I personally feel that there is no right political party. I could vote either Democratic or Repub, it makes no difference to me. Who ever I feel will get the job done the best.
1089863
I like to know about the candidates and their parties before I vote.  I like to vote for both the party and the candidate.  I don't vote Conservative but if there is a good NDP candidate I may vote for them usually the Liberals get my vote.
488256
I understand your theory but do not believe it to be true. Dirty politics's have been used by both party's for years, and it just depends on the delivery as to whether it is effective or not.
1132643
Dear dbish616@sbcglobal.net:\nI like your question. It is a question I have thought about all my life since I was a teenager. I am completing my masters in political science to understand that question better, and try to answer it. Last term we learned that there is the idealistic way of looking at the world and the realistic way. Idealists, like you and I, think about how the world should be, whereas the realists see the world as it is and act accordingly.\nThere's more to this question, but this may be a good start of a thread.\nRegards,\nCarlos
911888
Truman and he was a democrat.  That was a long time ago, before Vietnam.  It's interesting how times have changed things.  Most conservatives today would be considered left wing fanatics by Turmans standards.  Liberals today would seem to be from a different planet all together.