Daughter does political survey

[Maggie_May]

This morning saw a bunch of papers on the kitchen table and decided to take a peek. My daughter is a senior in high school and did a Political Survey for a class. The questions were are you a- Democrat Republican Other. Next question- Is this the same as both or one of your parents? Next question- Do you think your parents influence your political beliefs?
What I noticed in the survey which there is about a couple hundred, that the one question that is answered differently verses a Republican house hold and a Democrat house hold. Do you think your parents influence your political beliefs? 98% of Republican house holds have influenced their child's political beliefs. Most Democrat house holds have not influenced their child's political beliefs.

Do we let our children decided for themselves what there political beliefs should be?
Do Republicans brainwash their children at a early age?

[dubeskin]

1. I feel I was in a way

My mom always had a strong political belief, and somewhat enforced it around the house. I feel that influenced me a lot. That and the fact I have two moms, and growing up in Placer County California, the combination greatly influenced me. I think it i generally around the board that Democrat parents will have Democrat children and that Republican parents will have Republican children.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. My parents were Republicans and both my sister and I are Democrats. My son takes after me.

[butterfly77]

7. Until they go out into the real word...

and then begin to think for themselves...

[seabeyond]

2. d*mn straight i do. i insist they MUST do their own thinking.

they are not allowed to parrot me. if i think they are, i call them at it and ask them why they conclude as they do. if they dont have a thought out reasoning then i tell them to do their own research. my kids are young. they are already aware that lazy thinking isnt ok. we also have a lot of republicans in our family so it is a matter of always being respectful regardless the issue and always to the republican. both hubby and i declare ourselves more independent anyway. but... i vote dem and hubby voted repug until 2004.

i really can only stomach a free thinker. that is in all things, not just politics. because it is so important to me, my children have embraced and do well. even if it is a subject i agree with, i will often play devil advocate just so they will have to argue their point.

[graywarrior]

3. My parents were more critical thinkers than my generation is.

They were democrats, but tended to look at both sides of issues before making a decision. Sometimes, they actually voted republican (during the 50's).

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. My mom didn't

but she was one of those breeds now extinct, a liberal Republican. She now votes Democratic.

[NMDemDist2]

6. I think it's more a personality issue. Republicans tend to want to follow

authority and are more comfortable in a highly structured world whereas we unherded Democrats strive and thrive with less structure

[Sherman A1]

8. The only comment my Mom ever made that was directly political

was when Democrats are in office (the White House) her wallet got fatter, when Republicans were in office it got thinner. So I took heed of this advice from a single Mom who raised 2 kids and was born the year Warren Harding was elected to the White House.

[AnneD]

9. I had never voice my political feeling....

until my daughter started regurgitating GOP crap that she heard from her dad. I started countering the spew with cold hard facts. She would check them. Then she started asking me questions (comparing with Dad, I am sure).

Then, we went to Camp Casey in Crawford. She was really moved that there were so many intelligent, kind, folks of all stripe out to protest. It was such a positive experience for her....and then she came face to face with the 'protesters' they bussed in. These guys were screaming the most filthy obscenities to sweet white haired grannies because they had a peace sticker on their cars. It shocked her and made her a bit radical. Now when her Dad spews bilge-she counters with fact.....If I know her; he doesn't has a chance.