Conservatives are born rich!

[thatpfunk]

I was hoping a catchy title would = responses for my poll...
(purely curiosity here...)

[Dead]

Liberal and grew up upper middle class I guess.

[CCass]

Conservative, and grew up average to lower middle class.

My wife and I are now upper middle class, trending towards wealthy, thanks to OUR hard work. The government didn't help us, we busted our humps to get here. Anyone in our society can become part of the upper middle class if they want it badly enough.

[Dead]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone in our society can become part of the upper middle class if they want it badly enough.

[/ QUOTE ]

Myth. Do you see why?

[thatpfunk]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone in our society can become part of the upper middle class if they want it badly enough.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wish I was still this naive.

[Dead]

Maybe we can alter his statement a bit.

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone in our society can become part of the upper middle class if they are born into the upper middle class

[/ QUOTE ].

I'm at a good college because I had opportunities to go to good schools, and because my parents had the money to send me to college. I worked hard, sure, but if I had been born very poor and African-American I likely would not have had the same opportunities.

[player24]

For the sake of argument, let me substitute the word Republican for Conservative. (Those people those who identify themselves as conservatives are generally Republican.)

As it relates to present wealth/income, the stereotypes are mostly accurate, re is a high correlation between earnings and party affiliation. Those making more than $75,000 per year are overwhelmingly Republican.

Interestingly, the poll question relates to income while growing up, rather than current income. Let's assume that income while growing up influences income in adult hood, and that a critical link to this relationship is one's level of education (because higher education costs money).

The demographic data shows that as educational levels go up, more people are inclined to be Republican. Americans with less than a high school education are overwhelmingly more likely to be Democrats. People with college degrees are overwhelmingly Republican.

So, I will predict that those who grew up with lower incomes will identify with the term "liberal". And those who grew up wealthy, will identify with the term "conservative".

The most notable exceptions will probably relate to age, gender, ethnicity and/or an ideological view on the following question:

Do you identify with the "mommy-party" which believes that nurturing people is the best way to help them in the long run and that we should flee or ignore our enemies? Or do you identify with the "daddy-party" who believes in strong personal responsibility and favors a strong military to defend his family?

Of course, some will argue that the factor that distinghises conservatives and liberals is motives (i.e. conservatives don't like poor people, ethnic people, etc...). I, on the other hand, believe the distinction is generally one of methods rather than motives. (i.e. What is the best way to help less fortunate people and defend one's country?)

Above average income ---> Daddy Party.

[Dead]

Excellent post.

I just disagree slightly with one part. While it's true that college educated people tend to vote more Republican as a group, people who have done postgraduate work and/or earned postgraduate degrees tend to vote more for Democrats.

[player24]

Dead, You are Dead Right!

[thatpfunk]

Interesting post, but actually different than my intent...

Why this post came to creation-
I was raised in a family that was not well off and fell on very hard times on several occasions. Because of my upbringing I believe that there are many good and hard working people who are not able to get above the "barely scraping by" income level. Because of this I generally favor more liberal/socialistic economic plans.

I now go to a very expensive university (with a very wealthy student body) and through the course of my 4 years often get into discussions along these lines. I hear often from many conservative minded indivudals (also as expressed by CCass in this thread):
1) anyone can work and make decent money in the US and
2) it is not fair to tax the rich more than the poor.

Because of my upbringing and experiences (not only those of my family, but also those of my friends) I can never, ever imagine either of these being true in my mind. I am just curious how others feel and how (if) it relates to the environment in which they were raised.