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Free Talk Live => The Polling Pit => Topic started by: Gustav on November 09, 2006, 05:39:31 PM

Title: Family Politics
Post by: Gustav on November 09, 2006, 05:39:31 PM
My brother and I are both libertarian (I'm 16 he's 13), but my mom is a socialist who claims to be a Democrat (aren't they all?).
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Laetitia on November 09, 2006, 05:51:46 PM
We're both Libertarians, but our parents & siblings fall in the Repulbican, Democrat and Socialist categories - split pretty even between the 3.

So, if there's no clear majority, can we choose more than one?
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Gustav on November 09, 2006, 05:53:47 PM
The problem with getting 2 or more votes is that someone might stack up one category with all their votes. If you have a split chose the new "split category".
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Johnson on November 09, 2006, 06:07:11 PM
I don't believe that's the way multiple votes work.. With multiple votes I believe they need to be in different categories.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Taors on November 09, 2006, 06:13:20 PM
Every single person besides me in my family is a conservative Christian Republican.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Gustav on November 09, 2006, 06:47:11 PM
Besides my Mom being democratic my Dad used to be a Republican (actually I'm not sure any more, they're divorced and my mom has sole custody) but his whole side of the family is evangelical republican. On my moms side everyone is democratic, her brother and her mom and dad.
I've tried to get my mom to change trains of thought but she argues back that "people would be dying in the street" and doesn't think that a charity would even make a dent. My grandparents are rather set in their ways so it's rather useless to try and convert them. Has anyone else had any success trying to convert their family?
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: AlexLibman on November 09, 2006, 07:13:10 PM
Oh boy...

I'm 25, still single and have no family of my own.  My parents are separated.  My father is a true believer Communist who lived in Moscow all his life.  He's in his 70's now, living on NJ's vast social services, and keeps complaining about how much capitalist medicine sucks.  My mother and her side of the family are hardcore Zionists and think Bush is the best thing since sliced bread, except he's not killing those Arab apes fast enough.  I have no siblings.  If I had to guess about my American cousins, I'd say they're "South Park Republicans" at best, but I always avoid discussing politics with extended family.  I moved out as soon as I could, and I spend as little time with family as possible.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Laetitia on November 09, 2006, 08:32:51 PM
I've tried to get my mom to change trains of thought but she argues back that "people would be dying in the street" and doesn't think that a charity would even make a dent. My grandparents are rather set in their ways so it's rather useless to try and convert them. Has anyone else had any success trying to convert their family?

I haven't converted either of my parents. Mom's a staunch republican, and Dad's a lifelong democrat. Mom's freemarket, but thinks people don't really know how to behave - Dad thinks people ought to be left alone and it's the big companies who don't know how to behave without the govt. enforcing handouts.

There are several issues where each agrees with LP - and both of my parents have voted Libertarian in races where they already knew their R/D candidate either had the race won - or didn't have a chance in hell. They do this to give numbers to the LP in their state - because they both believe the ballot access hoops are bullshit, and that a valid party should not be shut out by the two big parties.

So, not converted. But definitely starting to warm up to the ideas?

Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith) on November 09, 2006, 09:22:25 PM
I've tried to get my mom to change trains of thought but she argues back that "people would be dying in the street" and doesn't think that a charity would even make a dent. My grandparents are rather set in their ways so it's rather useless to try and convert them. Has anyone else had any success trying to convert their family?

I haven't converted either of my parents. Mom's a staunch republican, and Dad's a lifelong democrat. Mom's freemarket, but thinks people don't really know how to behave - Dad thinks people ought to be left alone and it's the big companies who don't know how to behave without the govt. enforcing handouts.

There are several issues where each agrees with LP - and both of my parents have voted Libertarian in races where they already knew their R/D candidate either had the race won - or didn't have a chance in hell. They do this to give numbers to the LP in their state - because they both believe the ballot access hoops are bullshit, and that a valid party should not be shut out by the two big parties.

So, not converted. But definitely starting to warm up to the ideas?


Same here except my dad has started voting Republican ever since Al Gore.  Both parents are pro-free market and anti-welfare and pro legalization.  My mom is somewhat afraid of guns, but doesn't think they should be controlled (they had no problem with me shooting with the Boy Scouts or getting certified Pro Marksman by the NRA).  They are Libertarians at heart I think, but my dad still believes in limited intervention in some areas.  But he joins me in bashing the Federal Reserve and various regulatory agencies he has to deal with.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Xtopher on November 09, 2006, 10:01:23 PM
I was raised to be a conservative Catholic. Both of those dreams ended when I hit 15 or so.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: sms5150 on November 09, 2006, 10:12:11 PM
My mom is basically a Republican (although not registered), and my dad scored "Centrist" on the WSPQ (is that just code for "afraid to commit"?). 

The funny thing is, he's followed my libertarian arguments and agreed with me on most issues, but he balks at calling himself libertarian for some reason.  He says, "I'm an independent - I just want the politicians to leave me alone.  I don't agree with the Democrats' commie social programs, and I don't like the religious right dominating the Republicans, telling everyone how to live their lives and invading all these foreign countries.  So whatever that makes me, I don't know."

It makes you a libertarian, Dad.  Embrace it!  (I'm still working on him...)
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: pollyp on November 11, 2006, 04:41:36 AM
My dad's a Democrat, his wife is a Republican. My mom is a conservative libertarian (I'm working on her). My brother is a Republican (a die-hard Neocon for a while). My sister is a libertarian... she just doesn't know it (she doesn't have the attention span for politics, sadly).
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: mikehz on November 11, 2006, 09:53:49 AM
Me and my wife are libertarians. Oldest daughter is a libertarian. The other daughter is...well, I don't think she knows what she is. But then, she's only 26. Maybe she'll figure it out when she grows up.  8)
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: rollins100 on November 11, 2006, 01:57:26 PM
I voted "Rebulican" because my family consists of the only five on earth.    :P
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Johnny_ on November 11, 2006, 02:26:49 PM
Father is a libertarian in denial (Republican on paper) or one of those old fasioned "small government" conservatives who is also fairly socially liberal (not anti-gay, for example).  My mother is a complete neo-con drone who feeds on O'Reilly and Limbaugh.

My extended family is all across the board.

This thread makes me wonder: Do most Libertarians come from politically active families?
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Taors on November 11, 2006, 02:56:18 PM
Father is a libertarian in denial (Republican on paper) or one of those old fasioned "small government" conservatives who is also fairly socially liberal (not anti-gay, for example).  My mother is a complete neo-con drone who feeds on O'Reilly and Limbaugh.

My extended family is all across the board.

This thread makes me wonder: Do most Libertarians come from politically active families?

My parents listen to this (http://www.therefinersfire.org/info_about_iraq.htm) guy and then get politically active.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Xtopher on November 12, 2006, 05:55:28 PM
Now that I think about it, the one thing I distinctly remember my father saying about politics was, "Screw the government whenever possible."
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Taors on November 12, 2006, 07:15:36 PM
My dad just replied to my email and basically said 'get a job'. What the fuck does that have to do with America: Freedom to Fascism?
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: mikehz on November 12, 2006, 10:54:49 PM
Politically active family? Not mine! Neither of my parents voted, ever, or were even registered, so far as I know. As a kid, I remember once asking my mom what party they belonged to. "Oh, I don't know," she answered. "Them Democrats are for the working folks, and we're working folk, so I guess we must be Democrats."

I didn't get interested in politics until discovering Ayn Rand in high school.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Charles on November 14, 2006, 06:45:47 PM
Sister (22) = anarcho capitalist
Father (49) = libertarian republican
Mother(51) = conservative
Me(19) = constitutional libertarian
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Brent on November 15, 2006, 02:35:10 PM
My dad would probably fall under the classification of bleeding heart liberal, but when he actually votes his main goal is to oust the incumbent in every election.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Gustav on November 15, 2006, 06:43:16 PM
I'm interested on Ian and Mark's families and weather or not they have managed to get them to become libertarians. I'm a relatively new listener (August 2006) so I'm not sure if its been mentioned before.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: rollins100 on November 17, 2006, 06:49:56 AM
I also am a relatively new listener too, but I do remember one episode when Ian said that his mother chastises him for discussing politics at the dinner table when he goes to visit.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: seeNochanges913 on November 30, 2006, 09:38:24 AM
Now that I think about it, the one thing I distinctly remember my father saying about politics was, "Screw the government whenever possible."

Wise words
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: Rainman on November 30, 2006, 01:14:29 PM
My mom and dad are both more or less democrats.

My brother and I are both libertarians.  I basically converted him.  :P  We are both FTL listeners

My sister.. just doesn't think about that stuff.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: mike the godless heathen on December 01, 2006, 10:13:48 AM
my father is independent, although he is a very religious person (deacon in his baptist church) and probably swings more to the republican side of things.  my mother doesn't care one wit about politics.  my "ex"-wife registered at the democratic tent at the county fair one year ecause an old teacher of her's conviced her to, so we get mailers from those fucktards all the time.
Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: libertylover on December 01, 2006, 10:50:59 AM
My family was very politically active growing up.  My Father had JFK goodlooks and was being groomed for local politics when he died unexpectedly at a young age.  My paternal Grandfather was the motivation for the political activism with very strong Republican ties.  He was also a social liberal which seems to be typical of Presbyterians.  My other Grandfather was a proment community leader from the Democratic side.  He somewhat active with the African American community and taught us to be tolerant during a time of major unrest in the South.  He was also fiscally conservative Democrat.  Of course naturally with these influences when I learned about Libertarianism it was a natural fit for me.  I did sacrifice my own political future by remaining Libertarian.  I was offered jobs in DC with Republican ties during the Reagan Administration. 

Title: Re: Family Politics
Post by: mike the godless heathen on December 01, 2006, 10:55:26 AM
I did sacrifice my own political future by remaining Libertarian. I was offered jobs in DC with Republican ties during the Reagan Administration.

you gotta stick to your guns