A Lot or a Little?

Question

The question is, how much does family tradition -- what mom or dad, grandmom or grandad did -- have to do with your present political view and voting?

Answer 1

I think family, weather they mean to or not, is a big contributor to people's views. Lets say you admire your Dad and your Dad is Republican, I'd think you'd be more likely to share in his views. Or if you hate your Dad and your Dad is Republican, you'd be likely to disagree with his views. That's not always the case but I'd say its a big contributor to a lot of people.

Answer 2

I think that the answer is "a lot".  The reason is that people tend to vote for their preservation, and whatever that means to your parents, it's likely to mean to you.

If your parents were self employed, you would have grown up with the idea that you had to depend on yourself, and you would tend to vote more conservatively, for less government involvement in your life.

If your parents worked for a big company, you would have grown up with the idea that therein lay your well being. You would be comfortable with the idea of something bigger than you making the decisions that controlled your life. Therefore, big government would seem natural to you, and you would tend to vote more liberal.

Answer 3

My family have always believed in socialism and a fair and equal society for all, down many generations. I vote Labour and couldn't imagine voting for anything else especially Conservative.

Answer 4

It really depends on the family. I was raised in a historically Republican family but my parents were both University professors--- they taught me to think for myself, to do my research and form my own opinions. As a result, I almost always vote very opposite from my parents, not because I want to be opposite from them, but because my research told me these are the candidates and views that match more closely with mine.   Other families might value more doing things the same way, or not questioning authority, more than mine did. So... it really depends on your family and what you learned from them.