I am a young person who is conservative politically. Are there any more of us out there?

Question

There seem to be many more 20 somethings who are liberal and left-wing than conservative. Is this a fact, or are the conservative youth too afraid to speak out?

The fact that as people get older, they become more conservative makes conservative views seem more mature and reasonable, anyway. See any 1960s hippies still taking LSD and giving away free love? No, they gave up all that immature thinking long ago. Or am I off base?

TOP CONTRIBUTORS: Do not bother answering this question, I do not pick TCs as "best answer". I don't even want you getting 2 points for answering, but I have to live with that, I guess. Better yet, if you are a TC, MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION...because I WILL GIVE YOU NOTHING.

Answer 1

Hopefully, my daughters have enough values instilled in them to be conservative. You are right about age maturing people. So many liberals that I knew growing up are now Conservative. They've come face to face with reality!

Answer 2

I'm 29, live in So Cal, and am middle of the road republican. I do have some liberal tendencies, but mostly conservative beliefs. I think it's ridiculous that if you work hard, budget your money, save money, and then get taxed on the dividends, it's unfair. Why should I have to pay more taxes because I am being intelligent, instead of all the morons who spend way more than they make. Why should I have to pay more to the government when I'm investing, budgeting, and conserving my money?

So, that's my rant. To answer your question, I think a lot of generation y are impregnating their girlfriends, then being concerned about having a baby so they try to have them get an abortion (a typically liberal belief). Not to mention, most of them are not religious. They party late on Sat, and don't go to church on Sunday. Of course, this is a broad generalization, but I'd bet it's mostly true.

Answer 3

When I was young (I am 46) I always felt I identified more with liberals than conservatives because I believed the outward image that most people perceive: Liberals are compassionate, progressive thinkers and conservatives are selfish bigots. Boy was I wrong. Conservatives (although I don't include the religious right) are smart, pragmatic believers in the constitution who believe that our country's liberal policies are eviscerating our freedoms.

Most liberals I know don't really understand the difference between socialism and freedom and many are wolves in sheep's clothing. They wrap their agendas in 'efforts in the public interest' when what they really want is for everyone to think and live as they do. They are some of the most ethically challenged people I've ever met. It's complicated, which is why I believe most young people have simply not had the life experiences that allow them to be more politically educated - and really understand the deeper meanings associated with conservatism. So my hat is off to you for your wise perceptions at such a young age.

Answer 4

I am 32, and a conservative. I have been since I was about 20. There aren't alot, but the younger demographic has always been more liberal. Go back 20 years ago and the majority of people under 30 were liberal, if that is the case why is the majority of America liberal? We are still about 50-50 give or take.

Part of it is, when you are 20, you care about everyone, and are very idealistic, and care about the environment, and poor people, and all the traditional liberal talking points. But when you get into your 30s and start raising a family, your priorities change. When you were 20 you said, "Let's legalize pot" and when you are 45 and your kid is 15, you say "Don't smoke pot". Your priorities change to your kids, and conservative values lend more to your kids. You want to save money for their future, so you want lower taxes to be able to save more money. You don't want your kids to have sex, so you teach absinance. While you didn't go to church in your 20's you want your kids to have good values so you take them to church thinking it will give them better values. All these things change. Also, you are making more money as you get older in most cases. I am a store manager or a national retail chain now, in 1995, I was making sandwiches for $6.00. Big difference, so I am thinking about my 401k, and saving on taxes.

Here is somehting interesting, Women before they are married are usually about 56-44 dem to republican, when they get married but don't have kids they are about 50-50, and when they are married with kids they are 55-45 republican to dem. That is a 22% swing (12 pts dem, to 10pts rep). Like Sarah Silverman sings in one of her songs, "When your bleeding hearts grows old and swings to the right" That is exactly what happens.

To sum it up, when you are 20 you are idealistic and care about everone and want everything to be equal, when you get older you realize to make it where you want you have to think about what is best for yourself and your family. 2 completely different philosophies in live and therefore 2 completely different views on politics.

Answer 5

I have raised my 4 children to be conservative politically, so to answer your question yes there are more of you out there! I general, I think to answer your question further I would have to quote Sir Winston Churchill "If you are not liberal by 20 you have no heart, if you are not conservative by 40 you have no brain". I still believe that we have hearts however as we practice many acts of kindness and the such!

Answer 6

I'm a TC
I'm in ur question
getting ur 2 points

But you can find plenty of young conservatives if you head down to your local college or university's economics department. Or maybe they're all at the local Church.

I really get confused as to what is a conservative these days, but thinking about it, you'll probably just find libertarians and a variety of Keynes worshipers in the econ dept. so I guess all the modern conservatives are at church.

Answer 7

Welll..... I'm conservative.. In my university we had a Young Republicans club and a Conservatives/Right Winged club; both were packed with 17-25 year olds (graduate and undergraduate students)

they are there... and they are active... but unlike liberals/left wingers who have free time on their hand to debate/argue/show themselves to the public eye; conservatives pretty much have internships and school and other stuff to worry about. At least that's the way I see it.

When I was in college I only joined the clubs but never showed up because of a full class/study schedual. I also had other social things to be doing.

I guess us young conservatives have other things to do.

Answer 8

You have to add me to your contacts if you comeback. You can have fun with 3 and 4. Example : I hate working but am so thankful for this bailout now maybe I can buy a home. The tax increase on cigarrettes is going to help me pay my rent. I understand I will get back the 10 dollars for each carton I buy.

Answer 9

I am an older person who is conservative. I am happy to see a young conservative.

Answer 10

Maturity, whether it be gained through chronology or a particular set of events usually puts paid to the whimsical yet dangerous tendencies of modern liberalism.