Posted on Mar 3, 2016
Why does the older generation tend to be conservative while the younger generation today is more liberal?
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I will always be about progress, I will always be about moving forward as a society. So why is it people cling onto outdated ideology? by which I mean those who are against things like interracial relationship, the LGBT movement, or anything that was generally accepted as the norm over 60+ years ago. why is it that some people don't want society to change?
Politics
Liberal
Conservative
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 48
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The saying goes...
If you aren't a liberal as a young person, you have no heart.
If you aren't a conservative as and older person, you have no brain.
If you aren't a liberal as a young person, you have no heart.
If you aren't a conservative as and older person, you have no brain.
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CSM David Heidke
SSG John Thornton - Now that was a judgement... You triggered me, I need to go to my safe space.
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SFC (Join to see)
The quote (as i remember it) was "anyone who's not a liberal at 20 has no heart. Anyone who's still a liberal at age 30 has no brain." Attributed to Churchill too, I think.
Indisputably true in any case!
Indisputably true in any case!
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SSG Gerhard S.
SSG John Thornton - after looking at the definition of the word "judgement"
1.the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.
I agree, it likely IS a judgement.
1.the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.
I agree, it likely IS a judgement.
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Why do people insist on equating opposition to interracial relationships, the LGBT movement, etc as having anything to do with the Constitution? Can anyone show us where these things are even mentioned in the Constitution let alone prohibited? These are cultural issues, not Constitutional.
Why is it that some people want to change society? Easy. Society needs changing, but what does that have to do with the Constitution? The Constitution is a blueprint for a government among free people, people who are free to fashion society as they see fit. Take away the Constitution and you take away that freedom. Take away freedom and you take away the power to fashion society as you want.
You want an all-powerful government? Guess who is going to fashion society then.
That's why I cling to the ideology that advocates individual rights and responsibilities. So you can have the society you want rather than someone cramming their idea of a proper society down your throat and mine.
I hope that helps...
Why is it that some people want to change society? Easy. Society needs changing, but what does that have to do with the Constitution? The Constitution is a blueprint for a government among free people, people who are free to fashion society as they see fit. Take away the Constitution and you take away that freedom. Take away freedom and you take away the power to fashion society as you want.
You want an all-powerful government? Guess who is going to fashion society then.
That's why I cling to the ideology that advocates individual rights and responsibilities. So you can have the society you want rather than someone cramming their idea of a proper society down your throat and mine.
I hope that helps...
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Brother, I think the way you framed the question almost answers it for you. An ideology can not be "outdated", it can be right, or wrong. The notion that the latest ideas to come along have to be the best ideas, by default, is in itself a form of ideology, and one which I reject.
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CPT (Join to see)
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 - If a CSM says that about my comment, I'm taking it to the bank all day.
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PFC Eric Brown
To add to what CPT Ferguson said...these "ideas" are not the latest to come along, nor are they "new". Study history, especially the history of the great empires (the Roman Empire comes to mind), and see what caused the breakdown in those societies and eventually led to their fall. You will find that many of the things that ruined the ancient societies are now being pushed as "the in thing" here today.
One could also look at a couple of the candidates running for POTUS. The one from Vermont seems to attract the support of a lot of younger people...but he has failed to show anywhere in history where a socialist nation has not eventually destroyed itself.
And while you're at it, look up the definition of insanity. It seems that people just never learn.
One could also look at a couple of the candidates running for POTUS. The one from Vermont seems to attract the support of a lot of younger people...but he has failed to show anywhere in history where a socialist nation has not eventually destroyed itself.
And while you're at it, look up the definition of insanity. It seems that people just never learn.
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because many of the younger generation is still living at home being supported in part, or fully, by their parents. It's easy to be a liberal when someone else is footing the bill....
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Because the younger generation is lacking in education, experience and their product, wisdom.
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1LT Aaron Barr
Partially, the young are lacking in experience, that's part of youth. As for education, that's depends upon the individual. That said, there's reasons why you hear phrases like 'if you're in your 20s and not a socialist, you've no heart and if you're still a socialist past 30, you've no brain.'
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MAJ (Join to see)
CPL (Servicemember) - Being charitable is good, BUT the liberals should not use government as a gun to hold up hard workers just because they rare successful. What started out as "Do you want to donate a dollar to politicians campaigning?". The "donation" (no for me) is up to $3 now, BUT last I checked any released information, politicians GET 3X the donations authorized voluntarily by tax payers. Whisky Tango Foxtrot??
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SPC Miles Blackman
It is not a lack of education, it is the inability to think, to actually see. Most of today's instructors teach what they want you to know and how they want you to think. They need to start teaching "How" to be able to think, in other words how to be able to think for yourself. For the Military that means not only following orders, but knowing when an order is unlawful. The excuse of "I was just following orders" went down in flames in 1946 at Nuremberg.
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PFC Alexander Oliveira
Because the older you get the more mature you become. Liberalism sounds great, then you grow up and realize you need to be responsible for your own actions..of course some people never grow up, so there are more and more old Liberals all the time.
It is not that Conservatives do not progress, it is just that we want progress in a positive direction.
Because the older you get the more mature you become. Liberalism sounds great, then you grow up and realize you need to be responsible for your own actions..of course some people never grow up, so there are more and more old Liberals all the time.
It is not that Conservatives do not progress, it is just that we want progress in a positive direction.
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Col Rebecca Lorraine
Interesting discussion and I would add that although American society loves freedom, it was never intended to be freedom from self-control or responsibility. We have evolved into a society of self indulgent individuals. We are easily manipulated by media, commercialism, and we have moved away from community values to individualism. We come together in crisis, only to return to more liberal discourse when we aren't under the gun. The military functions because of team work, strict rules and patriotic duty and values individuals believe in. The civilian world is open season with fewer rules or social constraints. People are less happy the more they seem to have. It is equating freedom with total liberty of values that kept families together.
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SFC J Fullerton
MSG Brad Sand - You mean the founding document that the federal courts are saying the current POTUS is attempting to trample on? Just saying
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MSG Brad Sand
SFC J Fullerton
No, I am talking about the actual documents not things the courts make up to further their own agenda and then ignore when the politician of their favored stripe is in office. Just curious, what attempted trampling are you pretending was attempted?
No, I am talking about the actual documents not things the courts make up to further their own agenda and then ignore when the politician of their favored stripe is in office. Just curious, what attempted trampling are you pretending was attempted?
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SFC J Fullerton
MSG Brad Sand - The Constitution. It appears that the Federal Courts are in disagreement with the POTUS over his executive order. So in a sense, I was implying that the current POTUS was attempting to "trample" over that "original document", but obviously the Judicial Branch has something to say about it. Not "fake news", its a reality. Even his own SCOTUS nominee doesn't agree with him.
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Most people are not 100% liberal or 100% conservative. How can you say that any ideology is outdated? Have you stopped to think that some of your view are flat out wrong, and that you do not have the experience to have all of the answers? I do not have a problem with LGBT's. I do have a problem paying 15 dollars an hours to all minimum wage workers as a starting point. This wage is not meant to support folks for their entire career. Let these people get an education, work hard and earn higher pay by merit. Have you thought about what will happen to all the other wages if the minimum is 15 dollars an hours? I do not want changes that are harmful to our country.
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PFC Eric Brown
Perhaps technically I am mistaken. I do know, and found the supporting evidence, that he has in fact stated that it is deeply flawed, is full of negative liberties, constrains him, won't allow him to do what he wants, etc etc, whine, whine, bitch and moan. But apparently, I am mistaken about the "outdated" comments.
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Sgt (Join to see)
SPC Christopher Toedt - You raise the minimum wage, all wages must be raised, resulting in higher prices that have to be charged for goods and services.
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Sgt Mark Ramos
A wage increase without a proportional increase in productivity is inflationary. Economics 101.
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SGT Jerrold Pesz
SPC Christopher Toedt - A "normal standard of living" could be almost anything. Our poor have a higher standard of living than most in the world. During the time of FDR it was quite normal for people to eat at the soup line, be unemployed and not own a car. Not much but it was normal.
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Change can be scary for some. They fear what they don't know or understand. Luckily today we have greater access to information than ever before in history. I like to consider myself forward-focused and about progress as well. If I don't understand something, I will research it as best as possible before making any decisions. I am not one to automatically post a bunch of statistics and rhetoric without real fact checking (and that doesn't mean searching out confirmation bias haha).
Good question-thought provoking.
Good question-thought provoking.
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MSgt (Join to see)
SSgt, that is what makes you a great leader. I do not concern myself with the personal views of my people, what they do (in their free time), who they loved, and so on. That is not my place. My place is to help groom them for my position or something better.
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Sgt Mark Ramos
SFC (Join to see), Excellent observation. Analyzing the observation may bring you to risk tolerance. Young people think they have all the time in the world, so they can explore different paths. They think they are immortal, so they put themselves in physical danger. They have few assets, so not much to lose. They have more ideals than experience or knowledge. That is why so many accidentally kill or injure themselves, windup in a job they don't like, in debt, or with a spouse that is no good for them. But, a small percentage do something wonderful that changes the world.
If they were thoughtful or lucky enough to wind up in a job that they love, a partner whom they love and loves them back, a little financial security, and physical health, then they have little desire for change. They become: "disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change."
If they were thoughtful or lucky enough to wind up in a job that they love, a partner whom they love and loves them back, a little financial security, and physical health, then they have little desire for change. They become: "disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change."
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Younger generations are always more liberal than older generations. My question is why is 'progress' assumed to be a good thing? This country began on the concept of limited government and individual freedom. After 240 years of progress we have government with few limitations and individual freedom has become highly regulated by the government. From my preception of 64 years it seems we are progressing our way right into tyranny! That is not a good thing and is not actually progress. It is regression into the way the world was before the concept of America ever existed.
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I hope its not because all they are concerned with is the here and now and not worried about the future. I'm afraid they are concerned with free things. It became a bad thing to spank your kids when they did wrong so now they aren't held accountable for actions and live for free stuff. They think they are entitled without having to work for things.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
PO2 Mark Saffell That "no spank" and ---"That is not for you" instead of No! Has created problems in my family. The easy way out does not improve any situation!
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