Question(s) born out of nothing but curiosity :-)?

Question

I'd like to know how many of you have a diverse array of political leanings (liberal, moderate, conservative, Repub, Dem) within your circle of friends and family. Do you live in a mainly Republican area and so don't really know many Democrats, or the other way around? Does everyone you know intimately feel the same as you do about politics or are you exposed to different outlooks and ideas on a regular basis?

Do you discuss politics with people in real life who differ in their political beliefs with you, or just in this forum?

Thanks!

Hey Earnest, thanks. That's a real possibility - I'd love to actually meet someone from this forum and though we don't always agree, I've always appreciated your calm, intelligent, and forthright approach. The end of September we're going downstate to visit some friends of ours - that might work for us around that time. Like football (grin)?

Guess I ought to answer my own question as well :-).

I'm a moderate Independent with a staunchly Democratic husband, and two stepsons who both lean toward being Democrats. My Dad was a Republican in his later years, and my Stepmom is a really conservative Republican.

I live in an area that is largely Republican but also has a fair number of blue collar Democrats. Most of my family are Democrats, though not all. Most of our friends are Democrats as well, though there are exceptions.

We do talk politics a lot in our family and those summer BBQs can get pretty wild after everyone's had a couple of cold ones.

Answer 1

My family is comprised of:
1. My liberal Mom (college graduate - Sociology)
2. My conservative Dad (college graduate - Business)
(they have been happily married for almost 40 years)
3. My liberal sister and her moderate liberal husband (college graduates - Psychology and Engineering respectively)
4. My conservative husband (college graduate - degree in Broadcasting and Communications)
5. Me - moderate conservative (college graduate - degree in American Government)

I grew up in Northern Wisconsin in a mainly conservative area and now live in Northern Virginia in a very diverse area. I have interned and campaigned for a republican Congressman and a democratic Senator (even in the same election cycle) and I vote for the person not the party even though I am generally conservative.

Working in the hospitality industry, I work directly with people from at least 22 different countries and many different backgrounds and political philosophies.

I love talking politics with people, and always approach it with an attitude of civility and respect for everyone's opinions, whether I personally agree with them or not. That's what keeps it fun.

Answer 2

I have members of my family who are Republicans, Democrats and some who don't bother to vote ( I harass them the most). At work, most are Democrat, my closest supervisor is a Republican, oh I'm sorry, "true Conservative", ( I ask him "Did you vote for Bush?" "Well, yes." He replied. "You are a Republican." I say) sometimes we have very heated "discussions" in the back room, people have barged in because of our volume! We do agree on some things, though. He is my biggest political nemesis,yet we both thrive on the lively debate. I live in Michigan, a mecca for progressives, and I am very proud of Sen. Levin and Congress persons Dingell and Stabenow. My particular County is traditionally more conservative and leans toward Republican voting, that has all changed, with the last election. Every last Republican was voted out of office. I discuss politics with anyone who is willing. Not everyone agrees and I met the most brilliant Conservative once who said together he and I would make good Co-Presidents. I had much respect for this person and the thought of having a Conservative and a Progressive in charge was intriguing.

Answer 3

I'm pretty diverse. My father's side of the family is strict Eisenhower Republicans and my mother's is Democrats of the most devout kind. This really helped be have a diverse group of friends. Thus my three-person household in college had both the President of College Democrats and President of College Republicans in at the same time. We were great friends and would get in occassional political debates: usually calm and collected. Sometimes, a lot more fun.

I really think that diversity of political opinion makes us all better. Especially when it is diversity of strong, independent people. Neither of us would roll over and so we were willing to fight and discuss it out, and yet we all had respect for the others. It was fantastic.

Answer 4

I have a degree in History and Political Science and I served in the Army for 13 years and still work for the Government...I would not call myself a Conservative, but a Moderate who leans Conservative...my father has a PhD in History so we talk Politics and History a lot...as well as Alabama and SEC Football..lol...but most of my friends in the Army were fairly Conservative...I did have a Liberal friend and we use to discuss politics a lot...but he was a little too emotional on some things...I am from the South and live in the South now...but I have lived all over the US and the World...I even lived in very Liberal Hawaii for almost 6 years...so I have seen it all...I think the biggest discussion with Soldiers and Veterans these days is the possibility of Hilary Clinton becoming President...since I served under her husband, as many of my buddies did...we do not want her as our President and we have even started a Political Action Group to prevent this...it is called Soldiers, Veteran, Family, and Friends for Change (SVFFC)...and I am the President...=) anyone want to join us?

Answer 5

I don't generally discuss politics with people offline, unless I know them really well and they share some belief or another with me. Usually it's a close coworker, or my mother or sister.

I had a great conversation about a month ago with my dad though, when he was visiting his side of the family. He's a Republican and I'm a registered Independent. We actually agreed a lot on the administration and what's going on in the world, even though we come from completely different ends of the world on our politics.

I have no problem discussing politics with people who differ in opinion with me, as long as they can see where I'm coming from and I can see where they're coming from. There's nothing worse than a debate partner whose best tactic is covering their ears and screaming loudly, "la la la... I'm not listening!".

I think I still live in a Red state but it's turning blue these days. I think both my mom and sister are Dems. Unless they've gone Independent like I have.

Answer 6

I am a lonely conservative in a sea of liberals. Virtually the only one.

I do NOT talk politics with friends, co-workers or family. My own sister and I disagreed on the 2004 election, and NEVER discussed it. (I know how she voted because Mom told me!) It's not worth ruining Thanksgiving dinner over.

This is pretty much the only outlet for my views.

PS There are liberals and conservatives at work, but I make it a rule to NOT discuss politics and to "keep 'em guessing." There was a dinner at work the week before the election in 2004, and an ugly shouting match erupted between political rivals. I don't need the drama.

Answer 7

I am surrounded by conservative Republicans. They run the company for which I work, control the politics in my city, state and zipcode, and legislate in favor of the business I have. I come from a family which is divided between liberal populists and the Christian Right. am, and always have been very liberal about social and environmental issues, and fairly conservative about financial and defense issues. I consider myself a Democrat, but I part with my party one certain issues. I have friends in both parties, including several who hold fairly high public office.

I do not like to discuss politics with those who are rabidly right or rabidly left, which means most of my neighbors, some of the people at work, a few Christian members of my family, and one or two old radical lefties I know. You can't discuss politics with people who do not have an open mind, and I don't like to listen to ranting.

I do like to discuss politics with people who do not believe as I do. I appreciate different viewpoints, both in this forum and in the f2f world, as they help me learn to look at different sides of issues.

Answer 8

I and my older brother are the only liberals in our family--my mom, sister, and oldest brother are conservatives. My best friend is conservative (we just don't talk about religion or politics together), but most of my other friends are liberal. I live in Texas, which is a very red state, but work on a college campus, which puts me in a small pool of blue. Because I'm on a college campus, I get to hear differing opinions from students and visiting speakers on a regular basis, which is pretty cool.

Answer 9

Im a liberal Dem. I absolutely will not disscuss politics with my family. we have very different views and it seems an argment always ensued just because one was better informed on issues. Last election I voted independent as a protest so I know my vote was thrown away. Even if I had voted for Kerry it would not have changed the outcome. There was fraud in 2000 and 04 as well. see link below

Answer 10

I live in a politically diverse community (suburban Cleveland, OH) and have friends all over the political spectrum.

My family and I are mostly old-school Democrats (workers rights/Middle Class). It seems like a different party today (sold to Corporate America)