I don't really think Hispanics are a good sample group. They're usually very religious (-> should vote GOP)
Ahh, but Hispanics come in many different flavors. Hispanics in California are different from those in Texas and very different from those in, say, Florida. And I know from 2008 that there was a pretty pro-Obama feeling among the Hispanic students as well (although not to the degree of the black students).
Still, I don't think it'd be fair to say "kids that age usually get their political opinions only from their parents."
Depends upon the kid, but I'd maintain that most 8 or 9 year olds I know don't have much in the way of a political identity.
Not because we're all schizophrenic, but rather because the political spectrum constantly changes.
Oh, that happens in the US too... we just end up re-labeling the same parties with different positions ;) As many commentators have said about the current GOP primary field, Ronald Reagan would probably have a hard time getting the nomination these days because of some of his positions. And that was only 30 years ago. Go back to the 50s and you had Democrats opposing racial integration. Times, they change. And if you can't decide on a party (and don't want to be Libertarian or Green or something) you can be Independent, which is the largest and really most powerful voting block in the country today.
no subject
Ahh, but Hispanics come in many different flavors. Hispanics in California are different from those in Texas and very different from those in, say, Florida. And I know from 2008 that there was a pretty pro-Obama feeling among the Hispanic students as well (although not to the degree of the black students).
Still, I don't think it'd be fair to say "kids that age usually get their political opinions only from their parents."
Depends upon the kid, but I'd maintain that most 8 or 9 year olds I know don't have much in the way of a political identity.
Not because we're all schizophrenic, but rather because the political spectrum constantly changes.
Oh, that happens in the US too... we just end up re-labeling the same parties with different positions ;) As many commentators have said about the current GOP primary field, Ronald Reagan would probably have a hard time getting the nomination these days because of some of his positions. And that was only 30 years ago. Go back to the 50s and you had Democrats opposing racial integration. Times, they change. And if you can't decide on a party (and don't want to be Libertarian or Green or something) you can be Independent, which is the largest and really most powerful voting block in the country today.