What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

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Were you a Liberal(Democrat) Conservative(Republican) or Libertarian at 18-22 years Old ?

Liberal(Democrat)
4
6%
Conservative(Republican)
44
64%
Libertarian
11
16%
None
10
14%
 
Total votes: 69

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03Lightningrocks
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#31

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

TxRVer wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:42 pm I was apolitical until my third year in the Air Force when Carter became president and stopped the B1 bomber. I've been a conservative ever since.
LOL... I was too young to vote when he got elected but I still remember my mom and step dad crying in the living room while cursing the unions who forced their member to vote for him. During the next four years I understood the reason for their tears. He was one of the reasons I voted Reagan.

Now we all know that it could be worse and got Obama.
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John Galt
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#32

Post by John Galt »

There wasn't a choice for me, as I was a conservative Democrat (yes there were conservatives in the Democrat Party back then). I changed to the Republican Party with Reagan.
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03Lightningrocks
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#33

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

John Galt wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:58 pm There wasn't a choice for me, as I was a conservative Democrat (yes there were conservatives in the Democrat Party back then). I changed to the Republican Party with Reagan.
My family is originally all from Kentucky and Georgia. Before Jimmy Carter, most of them did vote Democrat. Even though conservative Democrats were more liberal than Republicans, they would never have described themselves as liberals. I also know that most of them were working class, hourly worker types from the manufacturing sectors who believed the Democrats were looking out for them while the Republicans were looking out for the big companies they all worked for. Unions had a huge influence on their thinking as well. Once the manufacturing jobs started going away, as well as after 4 years of Jimmy Carter, many of them (my relatives) started shifting to the Republican party.
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#34

Post by TxRVer »

John Galt wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:58 pm There wasn't a choice for me, as I was a conservative Democrat (yes there were conservatives in the Democrat Party back then). I changed to the Republican Party with Reagan.
I remember there were a lot of Democrats for Reagan.
Charlie
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03Lightningrocks
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#35

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

TxRVer wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:49 pm
John Galt wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:58 pm There wasn't a choice for me, as I was a conservative Democrat (yes there were conservatives in the Democrat Party back then). I changed to the Republican Party with Reagan.
I remember there were a lot of Democrats for Reagan.
:iagree: Maybe Reagan being a convert himself made it more palatable for them. :tiphat:

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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#36

Post by Soccerdad1995 »

I was anti-establishment, and anti-authority, at 18 years old. I chose Libertarian as that is closest to my views then. I've since morphed into an ideology that can best be described as Libertarian / Conservative. Where I break from the Libertarians, I side with Conservatives.

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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#37

Post by Soccerdad1995 »

Oldgringo wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:34 pm I would've voted for Kennedy in 1960 but I wasn't old enough; however, when I was old enough, I voted for Barry Goldwater and have voted for every Republican since then. My parents, bless their hearts, were both children of 'The Great Depression'. They always voted for Roosevelt and his party.

The voting age should never have been lowered EXCEPT for active military! :mad5
:iagree:

Personally, I think we should have a "May Issue" standard for voting. People should have to prove that they are a rational thinking adult before we allow them to vote.

After all, both voting and the RKBA are enshrined in our Constitution, and both can be dangerous in the hands of the mentally / emotionally unstable, or simply by folks who lack proper training.

Just have voting eligibility requirements mirror those for an LTC. For Texas, that would mean:
- No criminal history beyond minor misdemeanors
- Not delinquent on child support
- Able to demonstrate proficiency in the voting process and relevant laws, to include passing a test on basic civics, and the principals this country was founded upon

I may be missing one or two things here, but you get the idea.

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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#38

Post by LeonCarr »

I voted for Ross Perot in my first Presidential Election.

I voted Libertarian on this poll.
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#39

Post by Flightmare »

Soccerdad1995 wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 2:30 pm
Oldgringo wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:34 pm I would've voted for Kennedy in 1960 but I wasn't old enough; however, when I was old enough, I voted for Barry Goldwater and have voted for every Republican since then. My parents, bless their hearts, were both children of 'The Great Depression'. They always voted for Roosevelt and his party.

The voting age should never have been lowered EXCEPT for active military! :mad5
:iagree:

Personally, I think we should have a "May Issue" standard for voting. People should have to prove that they are a rational thinking adult before we allow them to vote.

After all, both voting and the RKBA are enshrined in our Constitution, and both can be dangerous in the hands of the mentally / emotionally unstable, or simply by folks who lack proper training.

Just have voting eligibility requirements mirror those for an LTC. For Texas, that would mean:
- No criminal history beyond minor misdemeanors
- Not delinquent on child support
- Able to demonstrate proficiency in the voting process and relevant laws, to include passing a test on basic civics, and the principals this country was founded upon

I may be missing one or two things here, but you get the idea.
Amusing proposition, however I do not think I trust the government to determine if you are a "rational thinking adult".
Deplorable lunatic since 2016
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#40

Post by flintknapper »

03Lightningrocks wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:41 pm
John Galt wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:58 pm There wasn't a choice for me, as I was a conservative Democrat (yes there were conservatives in the Democrat Party back then). I changed to the Republican Party with Reagan.
My family is originally all from Kentucky and Georgia. Before Jimmy Carter, most of them did vote Democrat. Even though conservative Democrats were more liberal than Republicans, they would never have described themselves as liberals. I also know that most of them were working class, hourly worker types from the manufacturing sectors who believed the Democrats were looking out for them while the Republicans were looking out for the big companies they all worked for. Unions had a huge influence on their thinking as well. Once the manufacturing jobs started going away, as well as after 4 years of Jimmy Carter, many of them (my relatives) started shifting to the Republican party.
^^^^^^

Growing up (I am 65 so this goes back a ways) the above pretty much describes what I always thought the basic differences were between the two parties. Republicans tended to be a bit more affluent....but definitely more in tune with the interests of Big Business. Also, somewhat more conservative, but Democrats for the most part were also conservatives. Perhaps more middle class with interests aligned toward the common working man. Good, decent people....all. Political affiliation wasn't something anyone even spoke about.

Very different these days. There is very much a divide and if you ask me...a 'culture war' that has been in place for at least a couple of decades now.
Spartans ask not how many, but where!
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#41

Post by 03Lightningrocks »

flintknapper wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:47 pm
03Lightningrocks wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:41 pm
John Galt wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:58 pm There wasn't a choice for me, as I was a conservative Democrat (yes there were conservatives in the Democrat Party back then). I changed to the Republican Party with Reagan.
My family is originally all from Kentucky and Georgia. Before Jimmy Carter, most of them did vote Democrat. Even though conservative Democrats were more liberal than Republicans, they would never have described themselves as liberals. I also know that most of them were working class, hourly worker types from the manufacturing sectors who believed the Democrats were looking out for them while the Republicans were looking out for the big companies they all worked for. Unions had a huge influence on their thinking as well. Once the manufacturing jobs started going away, as well as after 4 years of Jimmy Carter, many of them (my relatives) started shifting to the Republican party.
^^^^^^

Growing up (I am 65 so this goes back a ways) the above pretty much describes what I always thought the basic differences were between the two parties. Republicans tended to be a bit more affluent....but definitely more in tune with the interests of Big Business. Also, somewhat more conservative, but Democrats for the most part were also conservatives. Perhaps more middle class with interests aligned toward the common working man. Good, decent people....all. Political affiliation wasn't something anyone even spoke about.

Very different these days. There is very much a divide and if you ask me...a 'culture war' that has been in place for at least a couple of decades now.
Things have definitely gone off the rails. I had deer hunting buddies who liked Bill Clinton. I don't know that I considered them liberals in the same category as a liberal these days. Democrats have gone so far left that they now don't mind being called liberals and some even take pride in the socialist label. Democrats back then were not so anti American and American values. Democrats were also not anti christian like they are now. I agree that the parties are much more divided than they ever were.
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#42

Post by ScottDLS »

First election in 1984 I voted for Ronald Reagan, who was the commander in chief when I was commissioned as an officer in the Navy in 1988. Since the Constitutional authority for appointing officers of the armed forces lies with the President, I can say President Reagan appointed me (along with 2000 other Ensigns).
4/13/1996 Completed CHL Class, 4/16/1996 Fingerprints, Affidavits, and Application Mailed, 10/4/1996 Received CHL, renewed 1998, 2002, 2006, 2011, 2016...). "ATF... Uhhh...heh...heh....Alcohol, tobacco, and GUNS!! Cool!!!!"

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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#43

Post by imkopaka »

Flightmare wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 3:36 pm
Soccerdad1995 wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 2:30 pm
Oldgringo wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:34 pm I would've voted for Kennedy in 1960 but I wasn't old enough; however, when I was old enough, I voted for Barry Goldwater and have voted for every Republican since then. My parents, bless their hearts, were both children of 'The Great Depression'. They always voted for Roosevelt and his party.

The voting age should never have been lowered EXCEPT for active military! :mad5
:iagree:

Personally, I think we should have a "May Issue" standard for voting. People should have to prove that they are a rational thinking adult before we allow them to vote.

After all, both voting and the RKBA are enshrined in our Constitution, and both can be dangerous in the hands of the mentally / emotionally unstable, or simply by folks who lack proper training.

Just have voting eligibility requirements mirror those for an LTC. For Texas, that would mean:
- No criminal history beyond minor misdemeanors
- Not delinquent on child support
- Able to demonstrate proficiency in the voting process and relevant laws, to include passing a test on basic civics, and the principals this country was founded upon

I may be missing one or two things here, but you get the idea.
Amusing proposition, however I do not think I trust the government to determine if you are a "rational thinking adult".
:iagree:

Whoever was able to more quickly seize control of the requirements to vote would determine the power balance until the next revolution.
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#44

Post by Oldgringo »

Soccerdad1995 wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 2:30 pm
Oldgringo wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:34 pm I would've voted for Kennedy in 1960 but I wasn't old enough; however, when I was old enough, I voted for Barry Goldwater and have voted for every Republican since then. My parents, bless their hearts, were both children of 'The Great Depression'. They always voted for Roosevelt and his party.

The voting age should never have been lowered EXCEPT for active military! :mad5
:iagree:

Personally, I think we should have a "May Issue" standard for voting. People should have to prove that they are a rational thinking adult before we allow them to vote.

After all, both voting and the RKBA are enshrined in our Constitution, and both can be dangerous in the hands of the mentally / emotionally unstable, or simply by folks who lack proper training.

Just have voting eligibility requirements mirror those for an LTC. For Texas, that would mean:
- No criminal history beyond minor misdemeanors
- Not delinquent on child support
- Able to demonstrate proficiency in the voting process and relevant laws, to include passing a test on basic civics, and the principals this country was founded upon

I may be missing one or two things here, but you get the idea.
:iagree: just as there are persons who should never have a gun, there are American persons who are not qualified to vote....at any age.
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Re: What were your political leanings at 18 years old?

#45

Post by Liberty »

Oldgringo wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:28 pm just as there are persons who should never have a gun, there are American persons who are not qualified to vote....at any age.
If it were up to most leftist, they wouldn't allow me either.
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