how to spot a baby conservative…
…it’s the whining, of course!
The Toronto Star article on a recent social-science study begins this way:
Remember the whiny, insecure kid in nursery school, the one who always thought everyone was out to get him, and was always running to the teacher with complaints? Chances are he grew up to be a conservative.At least, he did if he was one of 95 kids from the Berkeley area that social scientists have been tracking for the last 20 years. The confident, resilient, self-reliant kids mostly grew up to be liberals.
[…]
In a society that values self-confidence and out-goingness, it's a mostly flattering picture for liberals. It also runs contrary to the American stereotype of wimpy liberals and strong conservatives. [emphasis added]
Although this was a small study, it does track well with the GOP’s stance as the “aggrieved majority” in so many instances: conservative whites whining about racism, conservative males crying about sexism, conservative Christians claiming persecution, conservative media personalities decrying “liberal media bias,” et cetera.
I’ll post details on the study when I find them.
(Thanks to Lya Kahlo at Escapee from the Meme Machine for the tip.)
update (3/21 at 2:51PM):
DemocraticUnderground has a funny take on this study, titled “Signs that your youngster might be a conservative.” It’s good stuff, especially these lines:
Shoots close friend in the face with Super Soaker. Graciously accepts apology from close friend, who is "deeply sorry for all the bad stuff that has happened this week."Obsessed with wee-wee of a certain classmate from Arkansas.