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Do we become more right-wing as we grow older?
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
I've been thinking about this for some time. Perhaps some people are more vocal than others, but I get the impression that the majority of pensioners are much more conservative than people in the 16-35 age group. Now I know that some people are conservative throughout their lives, and the opposite also happens: there are a few old left wingers still voicing their opinions with one foot in the grave. But still it seems that the majority of older citizens have a much more conservative approach to life: from drug consumption to sex/homosexuality to crime & punishment and many other issues.
Most of the people I've met in my age group have much more liberal views and I think it's safe to state that the majority of the population under 35 is, if not left-wing, at least more liberal than your average conservative voter. So can we look forward to having open-minded, liberal OAPs in 2040? Or are most of us gradually going to become more conservative and eventually be against the very things we embraced in our youth? And what provokes this change? Is it purely envy: the unavailability to do things we were once able to?
Most of the people I've met in my age group have much more liberal views and I think it's safe to state that the majority of the population under 35 is, if not left-wing, at least more liberal than your average conservative voter. So can we look forward to having open-minded, liberal OAPs in 2040? Or are most of us gradually going to become more conservative and eventually be against the very things we embraced in our youth? And what provokes this change? Is it purely envy: the unavailability to do things we were once able to?
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Comments
They become hard, bitter and conservative.
As Ive gotten older, left the US, travelled in numerous countries on numerous continents and spent some time with the ordinary people Ive become more left of centre i would have to say.
I do reckon it is generally true that people get 'more conservative' as they age. Not just in terms of political views, but also in their 'world view' or general outlook on life.
Norms change. And I guess that in approach every generation becomes more and more liberal.
Though politically (at least concerning the people in my surroundings), I wouldn't make a thumb rule saying (I know that you only meant roughly): Elderly=Conservative, Younger=Liberal.
I agree fully with that.
On issues such as homophobia, racism, sexism and alike, I think it isn't because they are old, but because they grew up in different times.
Then there are things like tax - and I think this is a fairly straightforward issue of human greed: it's much easier to be selfless and want to share the wealth when you have fuck all of it, which tends to be when you're young. When you're older you're more likely to be loaded and more liekly to think twice about raising taxes.
I hate the idea that being on the left is idealistic, and being on the right is realistic (that is, 'everyone else is out for themselves, so why shouldn't I be?'), which is why people change... but I have a horrible feeling it might be true.
Of course, it wouldn't be true if everyone changed and became more concernd about their fellow man. but that really is unrealistic.
This is so true. Although I still retain many of my more liberal 'morals'.