Do You Consider Yourself a Republican, Democrat or Independent?

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President Reagan greeting crowds of supporters at a rally during his bid for re-election in 1984. Related Article Dirck Halstead/Time & Life Pictures, via Getty Images
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Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

We get our political identity from all sorts of influences. Maybe from our parents, friends or communities — or perhaps from caring deeply about key issues.

How do you identify yourself politically? Would you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent?

In the article “Why Teenagers Today May Grow Up Conservative,” David Leonhardt writes:

There was a time not so long ago when the young seemed destined to be liberal forever. Americans in their teens and 20s were to the left of their elders on social issues. They worried more about poverty. They voted strongly Democratic.

In retrospect, we refer to this period as the 1960s, and it didn’t last long, let alone forever. Less than a generation after young people were marching for civil rights and against the Vietnam War, they voted overwhelmingly for Ronald Reagan.

Today, of course, the young are liberal again, and it seems as if they will be forever. They favor same-sex marriage, marijuana legalization, stricter gun laws, citizenship for illegal immigrants and an activist government that fights climate change and inequality. The Republican Party, as you have probably noticed, does not.

But the temporary nature of the 1960s should serve as a reminder that politics change. What seems permanent can become fleeting. And the Democratic Party, for all its strengths among Americans under 40, has some serious vulnerabilities, too.

Students: Read the entire article, then tell us …

– Would you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent? Or do you prefer a different party, such as the Green or Libertarian Party? How did you come to feel that way?

– Do you consider yourself a political person? Do you pay attention to politics or care about election results?

– What do you think is the biggest influence on your political identity? Your family, friends, community or values? Or is there another influence? Why?

– What is your reaction to this week’s midterm election results, with Republicans winning a Senate majority and increasing their control of the House?

– If you had one message to say to our political leaders in Washington, what would it be?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

1 Comment

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Tom November 6, 2014 · 1:30 pm

I consider myself a liberal Democrat. Ideologically I align with the Green Party but I don’t see them gaining power any time soon.

I am very political. I have volunteered in voter registration drives and helped run a petition campaign for more solar energy in Los Angeles. I also protested in Occupy Minnesota in 2011 and regularly post political articles on social media.

Although my family is composed of socially and fiscally liberal people (center-left on fiscal issues), I am by far the most liberal. Occupy Wall Street is the most influential political event in my life. I find myself more influenced by reading and researching than by those around me, but that is mostly because politics are such a taboo topic – if people around me opened up more often I would probably be more influenced by these conversations, as that’s how the world works.

I’m not surprised the GOP took more seats in Congress, since they gerrymandered House (is that a word?) districts to their advantage. I’m deeply disappointed that the GOP took over the Senate, but I could go on.

My message to Congress would be threefold:
1) You are a disgrace to the ideals of democracy. Please pass some legislation for once.
2) Quit pretending that you aren’t owned by the rich.
3) Help us change politics from a taboo to a dinner table discussion. It is a deep shame that our democracy cannot handle political discussions at the grassroots level. It’s no wonder that each side of the spectrum detests each other so much – maybe, if conservatives and democrats (liberals are few and far between) talked, and more importantly, listened, voters would be more inclined to elect officials that are willing to compromise. How can a democracy function properly if each side does not give an ear and a thought to the views of the other?