Americans move to the left with age
Tue, 2008-03-11 05:37
#1
Americans move to the left with age
Tue, 2008-03-11 05:37
#2
quote:
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.
[url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080310/sc_livescience/bustingmythp...
Which certainly has implications as an aging population turns out to vote.
Tue, 2008-03-11 05:54
#3
Huh. Someone needs to have a chat with certain members of MY family then.
(You know who you are. [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img] )
Tue, 2008-03-11 05:55
#4
Lard Tunderin Jeezus
As I read the article, this is just the Boomer bulge (somewhat more liberal that their predecessors) working their way through the demographics.
Tue, 2008-03-11 06:12
#5
N.Beltov
I've always subscribed to the view that people have a kind of mental "tipping point" (or a saddle point if you're into Mathematics) in regard to a lot of things, and once they move beyond that point then they almost always keep going in the same direction. Call it mental inertia.
It would be interesting to continue the study to find out what it is that causes people NOT to become more liberal as they grow older. I figure a big factor is too much TV brainwashing. The oldtimers I know watch too much TV.
Tue, 2008-03-11 06:20
#6
quote:
Originally posted by N.Beltov:
[b]... or a saddle point if you're into Mathematics ...[/b]
[thread drift]
Are you into mathematics?
Let's say you fly from Winnipeg to Montreal and back, zero wind all the way.
Then you do it again, but this time there's a 20 kph westerly wind all the way.
Which round trip takes more time (all else being equal)? [/thread drift]
Tue, 2008-03-11 06:24
#7
N.Beltov
Heh. I haven't flown east in years. Is it still possible to fly in that direction?
I think this cowboy has reached his saddle point.
P.S. Doesn't the wind cancel itself out?
[ 11 March 2008: Message edited by: N.Beltov ]
Tue, 2008-03-11 06:27
#8
quote:
Originally posted by N.Beltov:
[b]Heh. I haven't flown east in years. Is it still possible to fly in that direction? [/b]
Ok, ok, point taken. How about if I change the problem to flying [b]right[/b] for 2,408 km, then flying [b]left[/b] the same distance? Now it's not thread drift.
ETA:
quote:
[b]P.S. Doesn't the wind cancel itself out?[/b]
What's that supposed to be - a clever way of getting me to solve the problem for you? Just say "uncle" when you want the correct answer.
[ 11 March 2008: Message edited by: unionist ]
Tue, 2008-03-11 06:43
#9
N.Beltov
The round trip should take the same amount of time as the windless trip. What's gained in one direction is lost coming back.
But why would you want to fly back to Winnipeg anyway?
Answer: For the pleasures of thawing dogshit season to come.
Tue, 2008-03-11 07:16
#10
quote:
Originally posted by N.Beltov:
[b]The round trip should take the same amount of time as the windless trip. What's gained in one direction is lost coming back. [/b]
Incorrect. The windless trip is the shortest (in time). Any constant wind increases the duration. Without doing the actual math, the basic reason is that even though the tailwind improves your speed to the same extent as the headwind hinders it, the tailwind is blowing for [i]less time[/i] than the headwind. It's hard to visualize, but you can always do a sample calculation to convince yourself.
quote:
[b]But why would you want to fly back to Winnipeg anyway?[/b]
Because it's too far to walk?
Tue, 2008-03-11 07:48
#11
Sven
Churchill said: [b][i]“If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain.”[/b][/i]
It’s my sense that people in middle age tend to be more conservative than people in their early twenties. But, I also have the sense that many people in their retirement years tend to move somewhat to the left after they retire.
Tue, 2008-03-11 07:53
#12
quote:
Originally posted by Sven:
[b] But, I also have the sense that many people in their retirement years tend to move somewhat to the left after they retire.[/b]
Yeah, if you start off in Winnipeg and face south, I guess Florida would be somewhat to the left.
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:05
#13
Sven
quote:
Originally posted by unionist:
[b]Yeah, if you start off in Winnipeg and face south, I guess Florida would be somewhat to the left.[/b]
You think [b][i]most[/b][/i] older Americans move south?
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:08
#14
quote:
Originally posted by Sven:
[b]You think [b][i]most[/b][/i] older Americans move south?[/b]
Well, they sure don't seem to move [b][i]left[/i][/b]. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:12
#15
My Canadian neighbours are moving to the right with age.
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:14
#16
quote:
Originally posted by Toby Fourre:
[b]My Canadian neighbours are moving to the right with age.[/b]
I hope you don't mean your neighbours on the left, because then you'd have to move to the right to avoid them.
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:17
#17
quote:
Huh. Someone needs to have a chat with certain members of MY family then.
Ditto.
Though my dad is an American Republican who voted for Richard Nixon, he finds his beliefs are no longer in line with much of the current Republicans because they've moved to the far right while he's stayed put.
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:21
#18
quote:
Originally posted by Sineed:
[b]Ditto.Though my dad is an American Republican who voted for Richard Nixon, he finds his beliefs are no longer in line with much of the current Republicans because they've moved to the far right while he's stayed put.[/b]
He's still voting for Nixon?
Sorry, I couldn't resist, no disrespect intended.
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:38
#19
No offence taken. The whole family has gotten mileage out of dad's Nixon-voting over the years of the "Oh yeah?? Well YOU voted for NIXON!!" variety.
He's a pretty good-natured guy, generally.
Interesting anecdote: while in Florida in the early 90s, during a community meeting, dad loudly stated his opposition to the (first) Gulf war.
Some American old guy: "If you knew anything about our military..."
Dad explained he was an American military veteran, twelve years overlapping part of Korea and Vietnam before immigrating to Canada in '69.
There was a moment of silence, and old guy says to dad, "All those years in Canada made you go soft!!"
Tue, 2008-03-11 08:41
#20
rural - Francesca
ok, it's it wrong that when I read this thread title I justified it becuse as people age they get bent a bit and end up walking that way... [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]
Tue, 2008-03-11 09:03
#21
quote:
Originally posted by rural - Francesca:
[b]ok, it's it wrong that when I read this thread title I justified it becuse as people age they get bent a bit and end up walking that way... [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img] [/b]
No, many people think that we leftists are just bent.
Tue, 2008-03-11 16:38
#22
As an old grey beard, I can't say I've moved "left". I do worry though when the "kids" come in my office, many do not recognise the guy on my "Marx" tile or in my "Che" postcard.
Sigh -- at least it becomes a teaching experience.