Comments on: Political attitudes predicted by physiological traits?

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:54 +0000

Only 46 subjects in the study–much too small a sample for such assumptions, in addition to the questions raised by others about the value of the study.

Conclusions don't fit me either –scared to death of airplanes (but not of spiders) and I was the only one in college audience to cry at a nuclear doomsday drama; yet I vote for Democrats 99% of the time.

By: jack, phoenix, AZ

jack, phoenix, AZ — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:49:01 +0000

I agree to an extent. I think you are a product of your environment. I was brought up in an upper middle class, white, AngloSoxon home. I went to an all white school, and was lectured on wealth and security every day. My college education was paid for with a trust fund, as were both of my children's education. I have amassed finances to propel them and my grandchildren for some time in the future. Thus, I pride myself in not being a liberal, but a very right wing conservative REpublican. But in this election, change must come. McCain is too wishwashy, liberal, and too old. Obama , while a liberal, has never tried to play both sides of the fence as McCain.

By: Skye

Skye — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:46:20 +0000

David Cherby:

Remember Tipper Gore? Her fellow liberals hated her when she was trying to censor records.

Personally, I prefer blues, jazz, Celtic and world music. I don't care for violent movies, and I am annoyed by gratuitous sex. I'm not sure how much of this has to do with my being liberal, though.

By: Skye

Skye — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:40:13 +0000

I, too, must disagree with this conclusion based on personal experience. I was born into, and reared in, a conservative/evangelical Christian family. Anyone who's had that experience knows that the indoctrination is pretty complete. However, left to my own devices as an adult, I've morphed into being a person who's both "green" and most decidedly a social liberal. I had a "pressure event" which forced me to choose between the values that were indoctrinated into me as a child (and thus were not truly "my own"), and striking out alone to find my own values. I chose the latter course and have never regretted it.

By: J. Colby Rogers

J. Colby Rogers — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:39:14 +0000

By the way Jerry Lemeuix, let me remind you that name calling is not acceptable and that it was a highly liberal president that got us through WWII okay and saved us from the great depression and although the Republicans have spent the last 30 years attempting to tear down the New Deal its the surviving programs that make sure that your money is safe from the economy that Reagan started to wreck and Bushes SR and JR are finishing, I know clinton was inbetween but guess what he was helping our economy out okay, plus have you ever been threatened? No its people like you who shoot at every shadow that help the psychopaths that Reagan put on the street get guns and kill 20 people. So don't get me started on threats buddy

By: J. Colby Rogers

J. Colby Rogers — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:33:13 +0000

Alright, first things first,
Thanks to all of those that will actually read this comment because believe it or not i have to say something important. First off anyone and i mean anyone who believes that John McCain is a good president because he "crosses party lines" or is a "maverick" I bet you half the conservatives i know couldn't even tell you what maverick means. Honestly, and the Winston Churchill quote at the top was not said by Churchill it was Putin and he didn't talk about liberals and conservatives, because when he was alive that wasn't so big. No Putin said "He who does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart, he who wants it back has no brain." So there and John McCain is more of the same ™ he voted with and i mean with bush 90% of the time, and it was a blatant mistake to pick Palin, she has less and i mean less total experience than Obama does, and yet she is trying to make him look bad, Alaska is a small state and it doesn't take a genius to run anything, so look if you like the way our country is going vote for mccain, If he wins i'll be on the first train to Canada.

By: Schreiber!

Schreiber! — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:46:33 +0000

So...what about the libertarian brain?
I really hate it when they leave the minor parties out of these studies. Does anyone know how a libertarian would react to these?

By: Micki

Micki — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:55:35 +0000

The only issue I have is where a smaller reaction pairs with political stance. Aren't Democrats being MORE reactionary when considering gun control?

I agree, this may be more of a correlation of your habits due to your political stance, than an actual cause-and-effect relationship.

By: Claire

Claire — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:27:35 +0000

This entire study and discussion are so biased that it's unclear if there is truly a genetic link or not. This seems contrived.

I think younger people don't understand human nature and have utopian views about how the world will some day join hands and sing Kumbahya, while middle age brings with it the understanding that there are lunatics and sociopaths in the world and that has not changed over time.

Both ultra-conservatives and ultra-liberals include extremists who are pro-war, if the target is the correct group in their minds. I'm sorry, but this seems like junk science to me, and the comments are mostly just demonstrating bias, too.

By: Scott M

Scott M — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:11:04 +0000

Seems to me evolution required both: fear based gut reactions (we need to beat up that other camp before they take our food), and more thoughtful approaches (maybe we can work together). Like our pre-programmed preference for high fat meals (never know when I will catch another gopher to eat), I think the too-scared-to-think-straight angle has served out its usefulness and hopefully will die out.