My Parents Are Raging Liberals

Growing up in a liberal school, liberal state, and a most radically liberal household I was expected to be a democrat. I always had something to say about the CNN blaring from the living room, or my grandpa’s comments regarding the paper each morning. My family said that we should be spending more on social services, and that our inaffective gun laws are the reason that so many children keep dying. They said that Obama did better than he was given credit for-his presidency legalized marriage for EVERYONE. For god’s sake, he was a saint in their eyes. When I went to a Trump rally, they were disgusted, of course. But, the whole GOP is evil in their eyes. My step mom told my little brother that they laugh at those who fall down.

Coincidentally, i’ve turned out to be liberal (not entirely, but pretty substantially). Not surprisingly so, you could say. In a way, I wish that I wasn’t. Not because I am opposed to the democratic party, but because I don’t want to be defined “just like my parents”. I want my views to be solely mine. How do I know that I am not a victim to excessive bias?

I guess I don’t know whether or not I am. Data unfortunately doesn’t help me-most studies that i’ve read (like one by the British Journal of political science, by The National Longitude Study of Youth, and a few others) claim that over half of teens identify themselves with the same political party that their parents do. This makes sense, though. These same studies show that the kids who have strong and positive relationships with their parents are more likely to adapt their political views. Although this is an important factor in these studies, another is how often the parent and kid discuss politics. Again, another factor against me. But, a study by Jeffrey Lyons found that this parental influence may not last as time goes on. Other factors come into play-like where you move, and the college that you go to.

So, statistics say that I did mimic my parents in my political state of mind. But, statistics can’t be everything. The depth in which a teen tries to understand disputes for themselves, and is willing to alter their views based on facts, must make a difference too. I hope.