Old people who vote democratic

Let me get this straight . Our parents had all the benefits of living in a free capitalist society. they kept more of the money they earned, than we do because of lower taxes, less fees, fines, and other hidden taxes. now they are retiring,, and no longer pay payroll taxes, so they vote for socialist democrats, who have a redistribution of wealth philosphy. grrr. I may yet move to an island in the prince william sound.

As far as were they fall on the capitalist vs collectivist scale there is little difference between Republicans and Democrats. The main difference is which programs they like to spend money on. Bush has spent far more money than Clinton did. Is Republican Bush more of a Socialist than Democrat Clinton?

That may be the case with your parents...but typically...the Democratic Party if chuck full of young people...with idealistic, unjaded view of what is, has been and will be...the "perfect world", so to speak...the Reupublican Party usually starts looking better when people get into their thirties...have figured out that "idealistic thinking" is about as possible as any other day dream...but that work...taxes...and the day to day grind of keeping it all together is about as good as it gets.

I was a 60's flower child...as were all my friends...most of us have switched sides as the Democratic Party seems to think that bigger government...and more money will cure the problems, nof only of this nation...but the world.

phrannie

hahahaha, can I hitch a ride buddie?

part of the beauty of growing old is the freedom to do what you want and perhaps as you get closer to death you realize that doing for others is better than doing for yourself.

Phrannie, ever consider that 60's flower children who went on to become Reagan Democrats than neoconservatives have in the end became everything they hated when they were young? People who protested the Vietnam war but now that they are older they are fine sending young Americans to kill and die in Iraq so long as it isn't their kids? People who were wanted to protect the environment when they were young but now are more interested in Exxon/Mobil's stock price in their investment portfolio. People who tried to expand their consciousness with pot, LSD, and mescaline but now support locking up non-violent drug offenders for decades.

Sure lots of people have noted that young liberals often become old conservatives but ever consider that rather than growing up perhaps they are just selling out?

I was one of Thatcher's Children! She was voted in as Prime Minister of the UK on my 9th birthday, the day before I flew back from the US to spend the rest of my childhood and teens in my native UK. I certainly admired her as a child. My parents respected her and always voted for her Conservative Party. The General Election just before my 18th birthday nearly broke my heart, because I was 10 days too young to vote Conservative.

Frankly, 20 years on, and not exactly in the first flush of youth any more, I thank my lucky stars (or God, more realistically) that I was too young to have voted Conservative. For me I didn't have a flower-child adoration for liberalism. I was brought up to think of Conservatism as only right and proper, and it was only growing up that made me able to think for myself and change to what I consider a less selfish way of thinking. I find it highly unlikely that the next 30 years will see me voting Conservative at all!

what does giving money to the government have to do with helping people?

The government of any country SHOULD be, and in properly democratic countires actually IS responsible for the welfare of its citizens, and should also look to the welfare of the wider world in terms of poverty relief, fair or unfair international policies and environmental care. I will not vote for a party that does not see care for its people as a top priority. I can't see that you would either, rickd.

My money, given in taxes to my governments (UK and France), pays for the education and to some degree the healthcare of each nation. It pays for the development of infrastructures and training which make good jobs possible, and it ensures that responsible environmental policies are put in place across the country. It looks to the needs of the unemployed, the disabled and the elderly. It allows a fair justice system. I give money to the government in order to help myself, my family and my fellow citizens to these things.

Our pastor here in France (a right-wing Anglo-American) says that taxes are part of a modern tithe. The purpose of tithing in the Old Testament was to set a 'tax' for the good of the people.

I started out conservative. In my family Democrat and liberal are both dirty words. Like flossheal I started to think for myself. My conservativism was based on a series of premises that as a young man I accepted without question. Things like:

The free market eventually rights all wrongs.

The private sector is efficient and can always do a job much cheaper and better than any government program.

People succeed or fail because mainly because of their merits and government programs that help the poor are immoral because they penalise success and reward failure.

Industry is the source of our wealth and what is good for business is good for America.

Discovering that in the real world issues are far more complex than these simple statements sent me on a road of discovery that my conservativism was an ideology based on how I wanted the world to be instead of the way it is.

I grew up in a conservative household. I became very aware of politics at an early age, and immediately gravitated to the democratic party and liberal ideals. I remember getting into an argument with my mother at age 10 about Viet Nam. I was 13 when wategate was going on, and I remember being glued to the TV during the senate hearings. So needless to say, I have not gotten anymore conservative over the years. If anything I have gotten more liberal.