General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

47. Speak for yourself. Don't make assumptions about the rest of us.

Mon Dec 10, 2012, 02:05 AM

Dec 2012

Maybe it's just that we're all here on DU, but I'm another one who gets more liberal as I get older. I'm 64, and I did not quite get the student protests of the 1960's. Now I'm sorry I was not out protesting the Vietnam War back then. But I did protest Bush's wars.

Actually, as a couple of people have already pointed out, it is often your age cohort that influences your political opinions and actions. I am constantly recommending the book Generations by Strauss and Howe, and I am yet to run across anyone else who has ever read it. In short, their thesis is that you are profoundly affected by the conditions around you, especially in about the first 20 years of your life, and that each generation has a "personality" that they carry with them their entire life cycle. Fascinating book. It has profoundly affected how I think about lots of things.

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How does one counter the conservatism that seems to overtake people as they age? [View all] applegrove Dec 2012 OP

I don't have a clue. The older I get, the more liberal I become. Aristus Dec 2012 #1

You are the model we are after. I just heard the other day that applegrove Dec 2012 #2

And many of them are old hippies who are liberal. n/t ohheckyeah Dec 2012 #5

I dn't believe they were ever real hippies. jzola Dec 2012 #9

It's not really "conservatism." It's "selfishness." That's really what so-called 'hippies' were. kelliekat44 Dec 2012 #69

Huh? hobbit709 Dec 2012 #87

Were they hippies, though? jeff47 Dec 2012 #12

Did not know Nixon youth was a big number of kids. applegrove Dec 2012 #15

the so-called radical left of the day rurallib Dec 2012 #81

I was one of the Nixon Youth SouthernLiberal Dec 2012 #89

They were never hippies. Le Taz Hot Dec 2012 #18

There were Young Americans for Freedom back then as well as hippies eridani Dec 2012 #20

My bf's aunt was a hippie and was a democrat almost her entire life. Lilyeye Dec 2012 #63

I doubt it. llmart Dec 2012 #133

No they were not. They were the Jesus Freaks. DevonRex Dec 2012 #134

Nah... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #151

I have done they same. My opinions have moved Arkansas Granny Dec 2012 #7

Same here. Lugnut Dec 2012 #51

Ha! Aristus Dec 2012 #118

Same here... defacto7 Dec 2012 #57

great album! eom ellenfl Dec 2012 #162

Same here Sherman A1 Dec 2012 #65

In certain ways I have become even MORE liberal. But I know what you're saying. Hmmm,,, RBInMaine Dec 2012 #66

Always been way left and keep getting wayer left the older I get..... Magoo48 Dec 2012 #68

Totally. Same here. The more I learn and experience, the more liberal I become. Zorra Dec 2012 #73

Beyond left. Aristus Dec 2012 #119

same here luvmybluestate Dec 2012 #76

Welcome to DU! Aristus Dec 2012 #104

Welcome to DU and I hope you enjoy the site. hrmjustin Dec 2012 #117

Ditto.. And I was liberal to START with. By the time I'm 80 annabanana Dec 2012 #77

Same here. In my 30's I was--I blush to disclose--I was pretty Republican. raccoon Dec 2012 #91

You Are Not Alone Liberal_Dog Dec 2012 #93

you're definitely not the only one who feels that way njcamden_25884 Dec 2012 #97

The OP is a myth RainDog Dec 2012 #102

However, this article from ABC news last week suggests intheflow Dec 2012 #110

Gullible isn't the same as conservative RainDog Dec 2012 #112

But gullible does play a role in how people perceive the information they receive. intheflow Dec 2012 #113

Who You Trust Determines Your Gullibility RainDog Dec 2012 #114

Me too. This is the first time I have heard that older people became less liberal. patricia92243 Dec 2012 #108

Me too... Over my life, I've gone from Bible thumping fundy 4_TN_TITANS Dec 2012 #116

Me too! Dyedinthewoolliberal Dec 2012 #122

Same Here. Paladin Dec 2012 #145

That was my Dad get the red out Dec 2012 #153

Some people. ohheckyeah Dec 2012 #3

My parents have become more liberal too Lilyeye Dec 2012 #64

My parents support gay marriage and ohheckyeah Dec 2012 #137

It's because society changes people get stuck. Nt Flabbergasted Dec 2012 #4

One way to counter it is Blue_In_AK Dec 2012 #6

Another old leftie checking in. djean111 Dec 2012 #10

yes, let me add taht my aunts, uncles and parents were all liberals - hollysmom Dec 2012 #8

It's the damn Interweb tubes.... Bigmack Dec 2012 #11

I don't agree with your premise farmbo Dec 2012 #13

So who are all these 65 year old Fox News viewers if they were not hippies? applegrove Dec 2012 #14

They were conservatives when they were young DavidDvorkin Dec 2012 #24

Former members of Young Americans for Freedom n/t eridani Dec 2012 #26

There were plenty of non-hippies in that generation. pnwmom Dec 2012 #58

(self-delete) pnwmom Dec 2012 #59

I think you need to define what 'hippie' means to you. Gemini Cat Dec 2012 #141

not all 65 year olds were 'hippies'. most of them weren't. Mel Content Dec 2012 #148

And there----- scratcho Dec 2012 #136

I think this is less prevalent than it maybe used to be. yewberry Dec 2012 #16

First step is to not buy into the meme that people get more conservative as they get older. rufus dog Dec 2012 #17

I hope it is true. Especially with this patch of GOPers. They are rabidly xenophobic, applegrove Dec 2012 #22

Look at the poll numbers for Obama vs. Rmoney treestar Dec 2012 #31

If polls were accurate, Romney (according to Gallup) would have won. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #90

But these were the results, after the vote treestar Dec 2012 #121

What you say is the exact opposite of what Gallup reported and what was posted at #90. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #123

But these results are after the vote and from CNN treestar Dec 2012 #124

No. Under the plain language of the story, the results are from BEFORE the votes are counted. AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #130

The results are from when after the votes are counted treestar Dec 2012 #147

Winning 45-64 years olds by 51% means almost half of that group djean111 Dec 2012 #163

Numbers quakerboy Dec 2012 #43

+1 Fascinating number study! gtar100 Dec 2012 #84

Medicare and Social Security? DirkGently Dec 2012 #19

I cannot imagine maturity producing agreement with today's so-called "conservative movement' Douglas Carpenter Dec 2012 #21

But so many white males have bought into it. applegrove Dec 2012 #25

I agree with you it is not old time conservatism. applegrove Dec 2012 #27

I haven't actually seen this happen with the people I know. Chorophyll Dec 2012 #23

My dad went conservative (progressive conservative - Canada) 25 years ago. applegrove Dec 2012 #29

Rec'd, this is a big question treestar Dec 2012 #28

Didn't older white males go for Romney? applegrove Dec 2012 #32

I thought they went for Rmoney treestar Dec 2012 #33

I meant Romney. Sorry. Thanks for pointing out my mistake. applegrove Dec 2012 #35

Only a minority of baby boomers were hippies jeff47 Dec 2012 #38

True but most people that age accepted the changes treestar Dec 2012 #125

Nope. jeff47 Dec 2012 #139

That does not respond to what I said at all treestar Dec 2012 #146

I'm saying you believe something that wasn't actually true jeff47 Dec 2012 #150

The hippies were a minority of baby boomers Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #49

And a couple years before that, it was white go-go boots. Hardly a hippie thing! n/t pnwmom Dec 2012 #60

Anyone who looks at high school Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #82

My mom was a Republican until Reagan ran eridani Dec 2012 #30

When I was a kid in the 50's, it was the older people, who had marybourg Dec 2012 #34

Perhaps. But it is good to talk about. Because you can bet the GOP applegrove Dec 2012 #37

Excellent point. It will be up to the Democratic Party and Progressives BlueCaliDem Dec 2012 #86

This message was self-deleted by its author ailsagirl Dec 2012 #36

I'm not sure people tend to get more conservative as they age. Mariana Dec 2012 #39

The older I get the more liberal I am. Back in 1980 when I was doc03 Dec 2012 #40

This message was self-deleted by its author KatyAnn Dec 2012 #41

um I don't know I'm more liberal now than ever n/t MrsBrady Dec 2012 #42

I don't know. I'm an old person who gets more liberal as I Cleita Dec 2012 #44

Is that what's supposed to happen? Warpy Dec 2012 #45

Have no idea! burrowowl Dec 2012 #46

Speak for yourself. Don't make assumptions about the rest of us. SheilaT Dec 2012 #47

I think I'll read that book now after your recommendation. llmart Dec 2012 #135

I was a lot more conservative in my 30's than I was in my 50's Speck Tater Dec 2012 #48

Non-essentials become less important. I'm getting more liberal as I get older. patrice Dec 2012 #50

Making a bold assertion with nothing to back it up but speculation.... OldDem2012 Dec 2012 #52

There is medication for it now jberryhill Dec 2012 #53

I think I landed way over on the left when I was about 20 and haven't changed much that I notice. dimbear Dec 2012 #54

As a 60 year old liberal socialindependocrat Dec 2012 #55

my dad always says that Tunkamerica Dec 2012 #56

I told my kids not to let me turn into a conservative as I age. murielm99 Dec 2012 #61

I'm the worst sort. I started out liberal and as I learned more about how things really work Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #62

As I get older I reject labels & factionalism & divisiveness & polarization Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2012 #67

Except in a few areas I think it's a myth marions ghost Dec 2012 #70

By using reason... Comrade_McKenzie Dec 2012 #71

I'm not at all sure that your premise is correct. MineralMan Dec 2012 #72

The notion that people become conservative as they age is a myth. Odin2005 Dec 2012 #74

Not with women...they get more conservative when they get married and have kids davidn3600 Dec 2012 #75

The older people of the present maybe more conservative standingtall Dec 2012 #78

I've become a Progressive Democratic Socialist in my old age lunatica Dec 2012 #79

Old people don't like change and are set in their ways. However, I have always been liberal and am southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #80

Well, I'm only 68, so I'm still waiting Jackpine Radical Dec 2012 #83

LOL! applegrove Dec 2012 #115

Looking from a general point of view Awknid Dec 2012 #85

That's a very good question. I've observed it too. I don't know what the difference is. nt raccoon Dec 2012 #96

I'm thinking either brain surgery or gene treatment before birth librechik Dec 2012 #88

Fluid intelligence decreases with age. FarCenter Dec 2012 #92

55 here, and more liberal than at any time of my life IDemo Dec 2012 #94

I was born into a liberal family and none of us have changed much union_maid Dec 2012 #95

I think this may be more of an issue with the current group of elderly. bamacrat Dec 2012 #98

Change. You hit on it! HockeyMom Dec 2012 #157

Here in California the answer is to avoid any suggestion of removing the property tax limits... slackmaster Dec 2012 #99

People are fickle. People are programmable. johnlucas Dec 2012 #100

An oldie here, who is more liberal than ever. More liberal than my children. northoftheborder Dec 2012 #101

I don't think it's a coincedence that the Democratic Party has moved to the Right Romulox Dec 2012 #103

Almost 70. When will I get conservative? Hubby is 76. He is more liberal. appleannie1 Dec 2012 #105

I think there are some gender tendencies ehrnst Dec 2012 #106

That is a false meme. Coyotl Dec 2012 #107

I don't believe the myth that people get more conservative as they get older. CrispyQ Dec 2012 #109

It's been the opposite with me and also with my aunt who is now 75. we can do it Dec 2012 #111

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Dec 2012 #120

You should use some percentage of older people upaloopa Dec 2012 #126

After thinking about this, I have concluded that, as one of the earliest Boomers who started out djean111 Dec 2012 #127

I did not watch CNN to come up with applegrove Dec 2012 #131

The EXIT polls treestar Dec 2012 #149

Winning a group doesn't define that group upaloopa Dec 2012 #155

No I did not get it from a CNN poll applegrove Dec 2012 #128

Point taken. Your question, though, does not ask why "some" older people get more conservative. djean111 Dec 2012 #144

What am I chopped liver? upaloopa Dec 2012 #152

Never generalize jehop61 Dec 2012 #129

I have been a Democrat since I voted for JFK. RebelOne Dec 2012 #132

Voted for JFK and voted for every Democratic nominee since. Am 71 and kiranon Dec 2012 #140

In my case I've only become MORE liberal. Liberal In Texas Dec 2012 #138

This is the answer I was looking for. Thanks Bucky. applegrove Dec 2012 #142

I did volunteer work at the East Village location of the Merton Buber House in the early 70's. In_The_Wind Dec 2012 #143

I've become more liberal as a reaction to growing extremist conservativism. Old and In the Way Dec 2012 #154

Don't buy these stereotypical assumptions. However, some Eleanors38 Dec 2012 #156

I have found that women, in particular, get more radical with age. PDJane Dec 2012 #158

Becoming risk averse is not synonymous with less liberal... Agnosticsherbet Dec 2012 #159

I've aged, and gotten more liberal. Bake Dec 2012 #160

Some people become more conservative as the grow older, others more liberal and many don't ladjf Dec 2012 #161