Like so many people, my initial political beliefs, if you could even call them that, were a direct reflection of what I perceived to be the beliefs of my parents and of my surroundings. It seemed everyone backed Nixon in 1968, at least from the perspective of a 9-year-old in Northbrook, Illinois. So, until my political epiphany years later, I kind of fancied myself a Republican. I mean, wasn't everyone... except the hippies?
We have hosted, or been guests or, several family members in the past several summer weeks. And, wow, am I ever seeing some changes in the political views of young people. And the older folks? They're switching sides too!
Sweet Jeebus, there is hope.
Between my partner and I, we have a collective five siblings plus three spouses. Three of our four parents are still living. And we have a combined seven nieces and nephews (ranging from age 13-19).
My brother, sister-in-law, and sister all voted for Bush... both times. Tom's (my partner) siblings and spouses all voted for Bush in 2000. Three of them defected in 2004, but asked us not to tell the most out-spoken brother-in-law, fearing some kind of retribution I guess. But they still laughed and laughed hard at the Bush-bashing gifts we gave each other, and at the Hillary in '08 t-shirt we gave the GOP brother-in-law in 2005. Our parents made no secret that, even after being life-long Republicans, they simply could not support the party that left them behind, let alone its candidates. They were happily joining in the bashing of the preznit. More importantly, they were voicing real concern and disgust over the direction BushCo was taking our country.
Over the past few years, things have been changing a lot. And the change is most noticeable with the kids. None... and I mean none of them have any respect for our current president. They lament how the country is being wrecked by him and his ilk, cannot understand why their parents supported him. They used to not talk about it in front of their folks. Now they do. And it's great. They get it.
Near as I can tell, all of the adults in the immediate family have abandoned not only Bush but the party. Except one lone holdout. And that guy, brother-not-in-law Tim, has to be miserable. He's the kind of person who could NEVER admit he was wrong. He is in my mind's eye a perfect characterization of the 27% who will continue to support this president no matter what. What a tool. But at least he's consistent.
So let's look at the numbers. Way back in 1988, this collection of adults represented 13 votes, One was voting Democrat then. (And it wasn't me. I am SO sorry.) By 1996, it was three Democrats and ten Republicans. In 2000, it was five for the Democrats and eight for the Republicans. In 2004, the trend continued with seven Democratic voters and six Republican voters. In 2006, we Dems hit ten, leaving three Republicans to get a clue. Today, we are looking at only one of 13 voting Republican. And the two newly-registered voter/offspring are looking pretty damn Democratic too. My guess is the other five will follow suit.
I like the way this is going.
cross-posted on Kerfuffle