What influences your thinking?

[Moneyguy1]

Reading many of the posts here it appears that some of us are influenced greatly by the way we were raised: If our parents (and close friends & influential relatives & others) were Republicans, we tend to be Republicans. If we were raised in a Democraic environment, we tend to be more Democratic (even read progressive or liberal if you so wish) in our views.

Would you agree with this assessment or am I completely off base here? And, if "off base", what events or experiences molded your political (or other) outlooks?

Just thought this would be an interesting way of "educating" each other!!

[Racerbvd]

My father was a union Dem, and most people in my profession tend to be very liberal leaning.

[pwd72s]

My parents were Republicans...I was a flaming liberal as a young guy, but gradually converted over. Nothing like becoming a taxpayer to alter your viewpoint, especially if you research where the $$$ are going, discover the waste.

I guess LBJ was really the final straw for me...

[dhoward]

Glenlivet

[legion]

My father was a RINO. Listened to Rush Limbaugh but had no problem with living off of the government teat--just other people.

I was an anarchist in college. I didn't believe government was even necessary.

I have grudgingly realized that if some countries have governments, then we need a government for our self-defense.

[Noah930]

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

My parents were Republicans...I was a flaming liberal as a young guy, but gradually converted over.

I rebelled simply because my parents were conservative...I can guarantee that if they had been liberal I would have joined the John Birch Society just to mau-mau the 'rents.

I headed so far south of their moral and political tendencies that it was almost comical. Interesting thing to me is that they never wavered in their love for me, but were firm in their convictions.

I became conservative (not republican) based on experience, both personal and professional. The details are not important, rather the import of moral responsibility, the essential need for personal responsibility across our society and a growing knowledge of the ideals and boundaries set by our Constitution led me to my current mind set.

[BeyGon]

I think my outlook is from reading Ayn Rand while in the Marine Corps 66-68

[kstar]

My Dad taught me to use reason and logic and it really didn't start to take hold until my late 30s. It takes a serious effort, but I do try to keep biases to a minimum and see both side (edit - note the use of "side" was a Freudian slip!), and sometimes I succeed.

He didn't really push his views on me. In turn, I have tried to teach my Daughter that there are many different views and opinions and often some truth on both sides of a debate.

Of course, it's hard to totally sanitize such teachings from one's views.

FWIW.

Best,

Kurt

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I was raised in a more-or-less liberal household by Catholic parents. I consider myself mostly a conservative/libertarian politically and view organized religion with disdain in general. I've gotten to these points of view by thinking about them as objectively as possible.

With respect to politics, I don't like the idea of government "redistributing wealth" to prop up the slackers, do-nothings, lazy, unmotivated and stupid. I find that notion inherently unfair and not in the best interest of making us stronger as a society. With respect to religion, I find little use for it other than "legitimizing" a subset of secular agendas to control people with and for providing the weak-minded with a convenient way to rationalize hatred of others.

Others are of course welcome to debate or challenge these positions. Debate and discussion either tempers one's position or makes one realize that they are flawed and in need of change or modification. I love debate.

[frogger]

My parents were moderately liberal, and never voted anything other than Democrat. I was exposed to many liberal, moderate and conservative views by my mid-20's. I have been a been an independent all my life. My views have become more conservative as I grow older, but I cannot see myself becoming a Republican. Probably more of a libertarian.

[Moneyguy1]

Interesting responses. A lot of insight into each other. I hope more post their feelings.

[dd74]

Whatever's trendy.

[David]

I believe the vast majority of people worldwide have the same political and religious beliefs as their parents (with maybe some differences during those wild college years.)

My family is strongly Democrat which is unusual considering they're from a small non-union East Texas town (ie conservative) and I lean strongly to the left as well.

On the other hand, my family is also pretty religious and I'm atheist so how'd that happen?

[RANDY P]

I do whatever is fashionable according to PPOT.

rjp

[The Gaijin]

The little guy in my pants. At least around women..

[Palum6o]

I always hear my dad's voice... but ultimately as the saying goes, "happy wife, happy life..."

[tabs]

Mother influences my thinking, anything she is for, I'm against. It really keeps it simple. It wasn't always like that of course, but one day I had an epihany while on the road in the land where the Pharaoh died, and since then I have stepped out here on the perimeter where there are no stars and we are stone immaculate. Its like listening to some kind of new language that is soft driving, slow and mad where the Negros live in forests, wear brightly coloured feathers and tell you to come live with them in forests of azure...Mother calls it mean and rueful of the western dream of middle class existence but I call it heavenly in its brillance.

[kstar]

I can still recall old Mister Barnslow getting out every morning and nailing a fresh load of tadpoles to the old board of his. Then he'd spin it round and round, like a wheel of fortune, and no matter where it stopped he'd yell out, "Tadpoles! Tadpoles is a winner!" We all thought he was crazy. But then we had some growing up to do.

Jack Handey

[Superman]

I was not always the staunch conservative you see before you today.

Okay seriously......My parents were Republicans. Grandad owned the town bank. Dad was School Board Chairman, Police Commissioner, etc. Grandad's name is on his own stained glass window in the local Catholic church. Catholic school for me, through Grade 6. In all fairness they were not the most conservative of all possible Republicans, but they were Republicans nonetheless. Just like almost everyone else in my home town, a logging town in North Idaho. When I was sixteen, the "trickle down" theory made good sense.

And then I went out into the real world. Most of my opinions did not change substantially. Just my understanding of the "rest of the story" complexities that become interesting after one has moved from the distant and theoretical to the near and practical. Sure, the ol' "withdraw welfare, and the lazy SOB's will go to work" sounds cute, but I think most of the Republicans in my life have not been so.........simple minded. NONE of them have pretended that gubmit is a bad idea and could be essentially eliminated. None. So frankly, I think (and sincerely hope) a certain reliable and vocal group of conservatives here are not representative of mainstream conservative thought.

I ran a state gubmit office for a decade, but my political orientation was not changed by that. Informed, certainly. But not altered.

Religion. Someone mentioned that. It is easy to dismiss gubmit, as long as you don't really understand what it does or how it does that. Welfare is also easy to dismiss, under those circumstances. Organized religion also makes a good Whipping Boy. As long as you don't think about it very long. Or if you don't want your behavior encumbered by silly notions like those mentioned in the Bible. For me, religion has enormous value. The Catholic Church is more than a bunch of pedophiles wearing goofy collars. If the Church represents only ugly stories to you......then you've picked those turds out from a large pile of diamonds and you don't remember, or won't admit, the diamonds are there. Like I say, if politics is just something to whine about, a Whipping Boy to blame, then your world is much more simple than mine. I'll take mine. I left the simple one behind about thirty years ago.