User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Is There An Ethnic or Genetic Basis for Political Beliefs?

  1. #1
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Is There An Ethnic or Genetic Basis for Political Beliefs?

    I've recently begun pondering the question of whether or not one's genetics/ethnicity influence their political beliefs.

    Obviously, there is no denying that genetics influence everything about a person, but what I'm really wondering is if that influence impacts a given individual's political beliefs and behavior in a significant way.

    To use myself as an example, I've always had a strong anti-authoritarian streak, even before my beliefs coalesced into a coherent ideological construct. To what extent can this be explained by my Irish/Scottish ancestry? Am I genetically compelled to resist large scale authoritarian structures, just like my Scottish and Irish ancestors? Is it a coincidence that one of my best friends from the Marines, who is also of Irish descent, has almost exactly the same political beliefs that I do?

    Keep in mind, I am asking these questions because I do not know the answers. This is an attempt to get the ball rolling for meaningful discussion, which brings me to my next point.

    This has been made a tPF thread for a reason. Any attempt to attack or otherwise make issue of another poster's character or mental abilities will result in an instant thread ban. Any refusal to discuss the thread topic will likewise result in an instant thread ban. If you don't like it, then do not post in this thread.
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  2. #2
    Points: 122,776, Level: 84
    Level completed: 98%, Points required for next Level: 74
    Overall activity: 0.1%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsTagger Second ClassVeteran
    Safety's Avatar Nationalist
    Karma
    2616415
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    GA/FL
    Posts
    50,789
    Points
    122,776
    Level
    84
    Thanks Given
    25,014
    Thanked 22,901x in 15,599 Posts
    Mentioned
    1237 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I would imagine that most minorities base their political beliefs on their experience. By that, I mean given the value of family most individuals hold, there would be more that identify as conservative, but refuse to vote for them because of the views and comments other conservatives have in regards to minorities.
    “Conscientiously believing that the proper condition of the negro is slavery, or a complete subjection to the white man, and entertaining the belief that the day is not distant when the old Union will be restored with slavery nationally declared to be the proper condition of all of African descent, and in view of the future harmony and progress of all the States of America, I have been induced to issue this address, so that there may be no misunderstanding in the future”

    - Jefferson Davis

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Safety For This Useful Post:

    Ethereal (09-23-2018)

  4. #3
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Safety View Post
    I would imagine that most minorities base their political beliefs on their experience. By that, I mean given the value of family most individuals hold, there would be more that identify as conservative, but refuse to vote for them because of the views and comments other conservatives have in regards to minorities.
    Certainly experience has a lot to do with it. But can experiences be carried in a person's genetics as well? Are my genes carrying the memories of centuries of English oppression in them? Sometimes I wonder.
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  5. #4
    Points: 84,523, Level: 70
    Level completed: 87%, Points required for next Level: 327
    Overall activity: 12.0%
    Achievements:
    Tagger Second Class50000 Experience PointsSocialVeteran
    Captdon's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    12826
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Charleston South Carolina
    Posts
    38,294
    Points
    84,523
    Level
    70
    Thanks Given
    67,690
    Thanked 12,837x in 10,134 Posts
    Mentioned
    161 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Considering I come from a very military family where following orders and obeying authority is necessary, I can't see my environment having an effect. My father was a second generation German. They are not known for rebellion.

    My heritage is German, Irish, Scottish and English. Three relatively rebellious backgrounds.

    I have always have a problem with authority. I wasn't arrested and never went to prison but I certainly had a difficult time with anyone in authority. I usually learned as much as I could about my occupation to make myself more valuable as an employee than I lost with my attitude.

    So I have an ethnic heritage to explain my attitude but an environment that is the opposite. I don't have any real idea why I am what I am but I go against one of the things that make up my life
    and with one.
    Liberals are a clear and present danger to our nation
    Pick your enemies carefully.






  6. #5
    Points: 665,250, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 91.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialRecommendation Second ClassYour first GroupOverdrive50000 Experience PointsTagger First ClassVeteran
    Awards:
    Discussion Ender
    Chris's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    433311
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    197,547
    Points
    665,250
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    31,983
    Thanked 80,900x in 54,717 Posts
    Mentioned
    2011 Post(s)
    Tagged
    2 Thread(s)
    Society selects for traits it values. IOW, those who hold certain values and beliefs are more likely to find a mate and have children. The problem is we're capable of thinking things up that make no sense.
    Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. ― Gustav Mahler

  7. #6
    Points: 174,768, Level: 99
    Level completed: 28%, Points required for next Level: 2,882
    Overall activity: 23.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialVeteranTagger First Class50000 Experience Points
    Dr. Who's Avatar Advisor
    Karma
    870666
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Gallifrey
    Posts
    69,091
    Points
    174,768
    Level
    99
    Thanks Given
    12,827
    Thanked 12,929x in 8,807 Posts
    Mentioned
    206 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Ethereal View Post
    Certainly experience has a lot to do with it. But can experiences be carried in a person's genetics as well? Are my genes carrying the memories of centuries of English oppression in them? Sometimes I wonder.
    There is such thing as genetic memory, but I think that the influence of family is stronger and by that I mean the history of stories that are handed down in families that helped shape the characters of one's ancestors and one's parents. I see the Scots and Irish as rather different from one another in terms of history and culture. The Scots were less anti-authoritarian than fiercely nationalistic. The Irish while somewhat nationalistic, are more anti-authoritarian, largely because the British treated them as inferior people, which they didn't the Scots. The Scots were historically more militaristic (in the formal sense) and conservative, the Irish more prone to rebelliousness and frankly more liberal. This might result in a family history comprised of both cultural influences in a person who is a combination of both depending on the greater influences of one culture or the other. It's a bit like genetics.
    In quoting my post, you affirm and agree that you have not been goaded, provoked, emotionally manipulated or otherwise coerced into responding.



    "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
    Mahatma Gandhi

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to Dr. Who For This Useful Post:

    Ethereal (09-23-2018)

  9. #7
    Points: 74,571, Level: 66
    Level completed: 62%, Points required for next Level: 879
    Overall activity: 40.0%
    Achievements:
    50000 Experience PointsSocialVeteran
    Standing Wolf's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    314970
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Posts
    25,612
    Points
    74,571
    Level
    66
    Thanks Given
    5,716
    Thanked 21,087x in 12,282 Posts
    Mentioned
    415 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    It seems to me that almost every culture and ethnicity is fond of attributing certain characteristics to itself; being anti-authoritarian (or, as I like to put it, contrarianism) is one of those characteristics. (I'd have to say that Asians, as a rule, are the exception when it comes to that particular claimed trait.) I've frequently made the point that Americans have always displayed that tendency, but I believe that's more a product of history and environment than anything else. After all, most of us are genetic mutts at this point. My own ancestry is almost all German and Swiss-German on one side, and pretty much all French, English and Scottish on the other, so I would think it impossible to parse out what genetic predisposition came from what line.
    Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E. Howard

    "Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas and not eat a chicken fried steak." - Larry McMurtry

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Standing Wolf For This Useful Post:

    Ethereal (09-23-2018)

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts