Busting Myth, People Turn More Liberal with Age

[snopes]

The stereotype of a cranky old man, set in his ways, getting more conservative by the day, is an enduring one. But new research has debunked the myth that people become more conservative as they age.

By comparing surveys of various age groups taken over a span of more than 30 years, sociologists found that in general, Americans' opinions veer toward the liberal as they grow older.

http://www.livescience.com/health/08...l-seniors.html

[MidgardDragon]

My completely uneducated hypothesis based on just anecdotal evidence that I've witnessed is that younger people that start out liberal during their time spent trying to break into a stable life and stable working condition slowly grow more conservative once they "settle in" and become a part of the society that gave them so much trouble in the first place. Followed by a decline in conservatism and return to a more liberal viewpoint once they are no longer part of the "system" and are once again on the cusps of society.

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by MidgardDragon

My completely uneducated hypothesis based on just anecdotal evidence that I've witnessed is that younger people that start out liberal during their time spent trying to break into a stable life and stable working condition slowly grow more conservative once they "settle in" and become a part of the society that gave them so much trouble in the first place. Followed by a decline in conservatism and return to a more liberal viewpoint once they are no longer part of the "system" and are once again on the cusps of society.

Also older people may return to the protesting of their youth except this time they want things to remain the same rather than change.

[Natalie]

Originally Posted by MidgardDragon

My completely uneducated hypothesis based on just anecdotal evidence that I've witnessed is that younger people that start out liberal during their time spent trying to break into a stable life and stable working condition slowly grow more conservative once they "settle in" and become a part of the society that gave them so much trouble in the first place. Followed by a decline in conservatism and return to a more liberal viewpoint once they are no longer part of the "system" and are once again on the cusps of society.

Also, it seems to me that both young people and old people are more likely to use government services, at least in the US. Younger people make use of federal student aid, various job programs, Peace Corps, and so on, and those who don't personally use these programs probably have friends who do. Older people start getting their SSI payments and using Medicare maybe live in a subsidized nursing home or use some sort of subsidized transportation service. If they don't personally use those programs some of their friends probably do.

Obviously, everyone uses (directly or indirectly) government services like roads and police and whatnot, but the services used by twenty-somethings and eighty-somethings are more personal (direct payments between the government and an individual). It seems to me that the connection between more general services, politics, and individual voters is less obvious. Unless you're in Minnesota, where roads have become the new political litmus test. Who cares about abortion or the war: what's your opinion on potholes?

[AnglRdr]

Originally Posted by Natalie

Also, it seems to me that both young people and old people are more likely to use government services, at least in the US. Younger people make use of federal student aid, various job programs, Peace Corps, and so on, and those who don't personally use these programs probably have friends who do. Older people start getting their SSI payments and using Medicare maybe live in a subsidized nursing home or use some sort of subsidized transportation service. If they don't personally use those programs some of their friends probably do.

Obviously, everyone uses (directly or indirectly) government services like roads and police and whatnot, but the services used by twenty-somethings and eighty-somethings are more personal (direct payments between the government and an individual). It seems to me that the connection between more general services, politics, and individual voters is less obvious. Unless you're in Minnesota, where roads have become the new political litmus test. Who cares about abortion or the war: what's your opinion on potholes?

So your opinion is that the more government entitlements one uses, the more likely one is to be liberal? I am not sure that is what you're saying, so I am trying to clarify.

[Natalie]

Originally Posted by AnglRdr

So your opinion is that the more government entitlements one uses, the more likely one is to be liberal? I am not sure that is what you're saying, so I am trying to clarify.

At least fiscally liberal. I'm not sure exactly what would make someone more socially liberal, and I imagine it's a multitude of factors. But at least in my experience, those who are more fiscally conservative oppose the use of government funds for various social programs, and tend to not use those social programs. Obviously that's just people I know and doesn't necessarily hold true for everyone.

[AnglRdr]

Originally Posted by Natalie

At least fiscally liberal. I'm not sure exactly what would make someone more socially liberal, and I imagine it's a multitude of factors. But at least in my experience, those who are more fiscally conservative oppose the use of government funds for various social programs, and tend to not use those social programs. Obviously that's just people I know and doesn't necessarily hold true for everyone.

I haven't noticed such as a rule, at least anecdotally. I have heard some people receiving entitlements that they should absolutely receive them because they worked hard all these years and contributed to the system, but [insert whatever group here] shouldn't because they haven't.

That certainly hasn't been the rule, though.