My mom just told me that DemocraticUnderground.com

[Mr. Blonde]

won the battle for my political soul. How sad right? :)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. Yay for DU, and you! n/t

[Mr. Blonde]

2. She is taking solace in the people grow more conservative as

they grow older. One of the things being discussed was gay marriage and she says, "Equality and marriage rights for gays is something that will SPLIT the republican party in the next 4 years."

I told her that when it splits I hope she is on the side of equality.

[Snow]

4. Do not!

grow more conservative as we grow older. I'm old enough to be your grandfather, and I'm as radical as they come. I also know some people who are old enough to be my parents and more (they're in their 90's) who are likewise flaming radicals. See, something we don't get so easily is exposure to a broad spectrum of people in different stages of life other than our relatives - I get that exposure by going to a radical leftwing church (Society of Friends) but then I miss out on knowing any elderly right-wingers. Oh, well.

[MaryBear]

16. I think some people do

become more conservative as they grow older. However, they do not stop thinking. A thinker is more likely to be on DU. In my humble aged opinion. Another place to find even older liberals and activists than me is at a Unitarian Universalist church, btw. There's nothing quite like an 80 year old radical!

[papau]

6. people grow more conservative as they age -hmmmm- us one foot in the

grave types can expect a change of heart at somepoint and start voting GOP - I don't think so.

:-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. Only if they're like Zell Miller and that's NOT a good thing:)

[madrchsod]

3. well du got my 18yr old daughter

and my 31 yr old son..it`s a virus called sanity....

[Mr. Blonde]

5. While there are elements of both sides I disagree with

it is the social conservatism of the Right that really bothers me. Add that to their lack of any fiscal conservatism and under the current administration has nothing to offer.

[Old and In the Way]

8. Not me, I've gotten a lot more radical as I've aged (52 now)

I think it's a reaction to the radicalism that is manifesting itself on the right. The middle ground in this society seems to be slipping away.

As far as getting more conservative as one grows older; respectfully, I think people confuse conservatism with the tendency of many to stop learning and processing new information. Back when I was in college, a wise Jesuit asked me what I thought the function of education was in our lives. I said something to the effect that I didn't know, but I doubt I'd ever stop learning. He laughed and said, "Damn good answer."

[Generic Other]

9. And she would have preferred a Freeperbot?

Glug...glug...glug...

[Mr. Blonde]

10. She actually doesn't frequent that site.

she prefers Lucianne.com

[Generic Other]

13. Are you a foundling?

LOL. Sorry. I have a rightwing son myself. Oh the shame of admitting such a thing in public. The possibility of a hospital mix-up has always given me some comfort.

I don't really understand why some families have this strange political polarity develop. But I sympathize with you both. :)

[Downtown Hound]

11. I'm only 27

So I haven't hit the magical 30 mark where I'm supposed to develop a brain and grow conservative, but I get more liberal every year, and I'm pretty damn certain I won't ever get conservative. My income has increased, my knowledge has expanded with each growing year, and all I see more and more is that the liberals are right.

Liberal have the best economic policy, just look at there Bush has gotten us. Liberals have the best foreign policy, just look at where Bush has gotten us. Liberals are far more creative. We invented the personal computer, make all the best movies, write the best books, and make the greatest music. Naw, conservatives suck. And I used to be conservative. I went from Republican to centrist Democrat to Libertarian, and finally to radical lib. And I ain't ever goin' back.

[Mr. Blonde]

14. Isn't Libertarian about as far right as you can get? n/t.

[Droopy]

17. Well there's anarchy. n/t

[Downtown Hound]

18. Depends on how you define right-wing

If you do it only in terms of the belief in small government, then yes. But Libertarians are more open to things like gay marriage, legalized drugs, abortion, and sexual morality then your Bush-type Republican. Therefore, I view it as more of a move to the left. But really all it is is Republicans that like to smoke pot and read porno magazines, which being 18 at the time, I did.

[pacalo]

12. Well, I see that you're from Oklahoma, so it might seem sad to you. ;)

[Droopy]

15. I've been all over the spectrum

When I was in my late teens/early twenties I had a liberal outlook, but I knew very little about politics and I didn't vote the way I should have. Then I became more aware of poltics in my mid/late twenties and became a conservative. When I reached 30 I had a change of heart and became a liberal. I was way out there on the left for a short time, but now I'm a liberal Democrat. I think I'll be this way for the rest of my life because my mind has stabilized over the last few years. I was suffering from a mental illnes that was going untreated in my twenties and I think that contributed to me swinging all over the spectrum.