Education level and political beliefs?

Question

so here's what i'm wondering...

do you consider yourself conservative or liberal?

do you have a high school diploma? undergraduate degree? graduate degree?

do you feel that education makes a difference in whether people are conservative or liberal? why or why not?

it does not matter to me if you are conservative or liberal, you can be either and give an educated response. let's keep straight up biased remarks to a minimum.

Answer 1

People  with HS diploma or less  and  those with post graduate education tend to vote for democrats,  people  with some college or a college degree  tend to vote for republicans. I fit the pattern . I have a graduate degree and I am liberal. I don't think it is the education as such but the income level it implies.  High income people want the a government   that provides luxury services like clean environment, good schools, etc and have enough extra money so that taxes do not stress them.  Low income people want an active government to provides services that they need. Middle  income people  don;t need  services but are stressed by  taxes, so do want to pay for luxury services either.

Answer 2

Yes, I believe the higher your education the more inquisitive you will be and most likely be a Democrat. I live in the Deep South where most 16 year olds quit high school because they don't want to get up in the morning and the girls are pregnant before 18. They are not taught responsability in life and the grand mothers are stuck raising the children.That is incredible. Well, guess what, they are all Republicans. There is no way that anyone can reason with someone that is unreasonable, noway.  

Answer 3

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.  I am very conservative.

I think education does not result in one's beliefs - rather, I think education and beliefs are both results of one's mindset.  One does not determine the other, but knowing one aspect about a person can often be helpful in predicting the other aspect.  In other words, they are correlated, but not cause-and-effect.  Kind of like how ice cream sales and shark attacks go up in the summer - they are correlated in that people do more ice cream eating and swimming at the ocean during the same time periods... people aren't tastier to sharks because they just had some Ben & Jerry's.

Generally, liberals tend to be theoretical rather than practical.  That is why the majority of PhD's are liberal - they only think in the theoretical, not what actually happens in real life.  People who get some college, like a BS, and then get a job, tend to be more pragmatic - they understand how things work, and use their knowledge to accomplish things in real life.  People who only go to high school, or drop out, seem to be mixed, from what I've seen.  Some just want to start working, and have a realistic, practical approach to life (therefore, they are conservative).  Others are just lazy or see no way to get a decent job, and have no work ethic, and would rather just mooch off our govt (liberal).

I have also noticed, though, that as far as college grads, it tends to depend on the major.  For example, in engineering, the majority of students are pretty conservative - this is a practical major, you learn how to do something, and then use that knowledge to solve problems, so they are usually more practical, and therefore conservative.  However, an art major can't really be used for much, and people only go that way because they either want to teach art (because they can't do anything), or because they think they are somehow a "deeper thinker" than those of us who learn how to do things.

Obviously, these are generalizations, and there are exceptions, but this is what I have observed.

Answer 4

I have a BA and MA, I am a moral liberal fiscal conservative

My husband has a BS and MBA, he too is a moral liberal and fiscal conservative.

OBAMA '08

We have many friends who have Phd's in Mathematics, Biochemistry, etc and ALL are liberals. My children are all engineers.....Chemical and Mechanical and they are all liberals.

Answer 5

I have two years of college, no degree, had to work for my family, but I have continued to study. I chose the republican party after years of being a Democrat. Education does make the difference in that a more educated person looks at history, and events. He evaluates and if need be researches to find answers.When a person can see history and trends, to know what has been gained or lost over the years, then he can make a better evaluation of trends and current events.I had to change parties because the republicans became more like the party I used to belong to, and the Democrats have seemingly gone off the deep end.They seem like communists with all the socialized programs.

Answer 6

Liberal with a MBA.

Life experiences have more to do with political affiliation than education.

Answer 7

I'm a conservative, I'm 36 and have a BS in electronic engineering.

I don't think education makes much difference. I think common sense and morality have more to do with it.

Answer 8

I have a Bachelors of Business Administration. I consider myself liberal although many people would probably call me moderate.

I think being liberal is about realizing how fragile life is and about making the most of it. You shouldn't be forced to join the military or have a child you don't want because of someone else's emotional beliefs.

Being conservative is about living in a fantasy world.  

Answer 9

Masters degree (biomedical engineering)

100% Conservative

Republicans think with their brains.  Liberals think with their feelings.  Liberals also get brainwashed by a nobody after 2 speeches.  Has to be embarrassing.

Answer 10

I am fairly liberal, mostly vote democrat although I have voted for a few republicans and independents.  I have a phd in biophysical chemistry.

I do find it a little depressing that there seem to be a lot of conservatives that find education to be a big negative.  I WANT the president of my country to be well educated , intelligent and thoughtful.  Even if he or she might be seen as 'elite'.  What could possibly BE more elite than being the leader of one of the best nations in the world?

Answer 11

I am neither a conservative or Liberal, I am a democrat.  

I think the education level depends on where you live.  I live in the south and the uneducated hicks tend to be republicans, (Another political party you forgot to mention) and the democrats tend to be the ones that are educated.  In different parts of the country, the opposite may be true.  

Answer 12

Democrat

undergraduate(psychology)

No i don't think education makes a difference. How you were brought up, situations you've been put through, etc... mold your morals and political point of views

Answer 13

MA candidate, progressing on to PhD.

I am neither conservative or liberal. I am far-left.

Education is the cure to Republican values and political ideology.

Answer 14

Conservative with grad and no it doesn't make a difference.  Age and life experiences can affect ones belief system.  

Answer 15

im liberal

I graduate with a bachelors in education in April