How does one develop their political ideas? Here's a study done on college students and by that age,

[sinkingfeeling]

the division between 'liberals' and 'conservatives' or between Democrats and Republicans is a mile wide.

http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2009/05/14/Campus/Student.Beliefs.On.Global.Warming.Follow.Party.Lines-3741081.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition


<snip>
Most Ohio State undergraduate students, regardless of political orientation, believe global warming is happening, according to a recent survey of 3,568 full-time, undergraduate students.

However, beliefs about the cause of global warming significantly divide Democrats and Republicans.

Of the 98 percent of Democrats at OSU who think global warming is happening, 87 percent say it is mostly a result of human activity, according to the random, scientifically valid survey. Sixty-three percent of the students who identified themselves as independents say the same.

Eighty percent of Republicans on campus believe global warming is happening. Thirty-four percent think it is human induced, while 46 percent say natural changes in the environment are mostly to blame.


Seventy-one percent of Democrats believe protecting the environment is most important while 73 percent of Republicans say economic growth is most important. In addition, there is a vast difference in priorities between Democrats and Republicans.

Both Democrats and Republicans rank employment as the most important issue being discussed in Washington. But while Republicans are concerned with the federal budget deficit, Democrats are thinking about education. While Democrats are worrying about energy independence and the environment, Republicans are concerned with national security.

Republicans rank the environment as the nation's lowest priority, while Democrats say tax cuts are least important, followed by national security. Independents rank issues in a nearly identical order as Democrats.
<snip>

The whole survey is like this. How does one come to 'see' the same things in such different light?

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Independents rank issues in a nearly identical order as Democrats.

And THAT is the best news in the entire article.

As for your question, I have no frickin idea. I always thought it really bizarre that people of my generation would support Nixon and Kissinger - and equally bizarre that people today lay blame for Reagan at the feet of the Boomers.

It's as if in every generation the libs and cons are from completely different countries.

[Kalyke]

2. I developed mine because

A. I was born female.
B. I was born into a family who wanted me to be educated.

So, I'm an educated female, which means I'd have no other option but to be a liberal. :)