Tuesday November 2, 2004 – Origins of Political Belief

Tuesday November 2, 2004 – Origins of Political Belief

My daughter M and her husband G are dyed in the wool democrats, while my daughter R and her husband T are committed republicans. M and G live in Northern California and R and T are Orange County, California residents. We’re one of those families that debate political points of view openly without provoking an annoying domestic disturbance 911 call placed by a concerned neighbor. How did these two children of mine born a bit over three years apart come to adopt entirely opposite political views.

Both grew up in the same household where we discussed politics at election time. My wife “I” is an unrepentant independent—born in Scotland of staunch labor party supporters. The family knew their political party bosses, contributed to the party election fund, and volunteered in getting out the vote and local neighborhood campaigning at election time. My family was for most of my upbringing staunch southern democrats. My earliest recollection was a heated discussion on the eve of the Dewey-Truman election of how Truman was going to win the election despite doubts expressed by radio commentators and political pundits. I turned out like my wife “I” a rabid independent that anguishes over every political vote.

Why then did both our daughters form strong political views that aligned them each with a distinct political persuasion? They certainly did not get it from either of their parents. “I” and I treated political education in the same way we treated religious education with both daughters. Since "I" and I both grew up catholic we felt compelled to ensure that both daughters were given a clean start in life. Thus, both were baptized to rid them of the original sin we’re all born with. I know what you’re thinking. Rational independent minded, free thinkers like us still hedging our bets about the religious thing. Let me tell you, when you’re told at five years old that you have come into the world with a sin on your soul that will prevent you from going to heaven, it leaves an indelible mark on your conscience, no matter how much scientific rationalism you’re taught in your later years. There remains that residue of doubt that no good parent wanting the best for their kids can ignore.

But, beyond the ritual of baptism, neither M nor R spent much time in church and what religious education they received occurred as part of their secular education. Both chose of their own volition to receive communion when they were in college. Now that both have two children of their own they have chosen as we did to have their children baptized but have not subjected them to the regimen of religious instruction.

I went off on this religious tangent to illustrate a point. Both daughters followed our example when it came to religion. Why then did each form strong polar opposite political beliefs. Now, I know what you’re going to say. They got it from their experience in school. I would tend to agree with you but both daughters attended the same schools and in many instances had the same teachers. Their grade school, their middle school, and their high school were located in Northern California. There was one slight difference in their early years and later schooling years.

M, who was born right outside of Washington DC in Maryland, began attending a Montessori preschool in Plano, just north of Dallas—she’s the democrat remember. R, who was born in Richardson, just north of Dallas and South of Plano, attended a Montessori preschool in San Jose before entering grade school. Later, after high school, M chose to attend the University of California at Irvine. On the other hand R, began her studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz—remember she’s the republican—transferring to UCI in her sophomore year. There was one event that might have had and otherworldly influence on R, which could have influenced her political thinking if you believe in otherworldly suasion: she was attending UC Santa Cruz during the Loma Preita earthquake. And it was after the earthquake that she decided to transfer to UCI. Cosmic connection?

The fact that both daughters attended UCI would have suggested that both would have adopted a republican point of view, but that was not the case. M lived for a time in the OC before and after getting married. Even then, she was manifesting signs of a staunch belief in the democratic faith before moving back to Northern California. R, too, remained in the OC after graduation and. though not with the same fervor, she was showing definite signs of republican devotion. And these building beliefs were beginning to provide some lively conversations during family gatherings.

As both daughters married and the get-togethers included husbands, the political discussions were a source of comic relief as each took turns poking fun at the opposing political points of view. With the current presidential contest, the political fervor from both daughters, though still tolerant of one another's point of view, has become more polarized.

Since my daughters became political active, I have made a policy of never divulging whom I voted for not even to my wife “I”, who will explain her political choice when asked by a family member or close friend. (She, however, will refuse to comment to telephone surveyors or exit pollsters. So please no calls.) My daughters and wife chide me on my secrecy. The reality is my choice will have little bearing on either of their points of view but whom I chose might make one feel less than the other and I would hate for that to happen.

Happy Election Day and may the best man win.