"Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
A few weeks ago I asked Ricochet readers to tell us why they were conservative. Thank you to all who responded. I thought it would be interesting for everyone to see a quantification of the replies. In what can only be described as "Pseudo-Science*," I tried to stratify answers according to recurring themes. I only counted individuals who self identified as fitting into one of the following categories:
Faith: Conservative because of faith
Family: Conservative because of upbringing
Politically Sensible: Conservative because it makes political sense this election
Interaction with liberals: Liberal tolerance was so convincing they became conservative
Virtue of others: People who were persuaded by other such as WFB, Sowell, etc.
Logica Evictus Sum**: Logic convinced them to change from liberal to conservative
Logica Hoc Dictat: Logic dictated they be conservative from the beginning
*Disclaimer: Math is hard.
**Disclaimer: I've only had six months of high school Latin
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Comments:
Jul '10
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
Mmmmm.... Piiiie.....
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
Terrific post!
Apr '12
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
Thank you A.D.P. for making something useful.
I'm a little confused about the native conservatives (logica hoc dictat). Logic from the beginning of what? Did they ever venture into Leftist thinking?
Also,I answered your query with virtue of others, but that was integral to the logica evictus sum that drove my transformation from Leftism. Could you please redo you graph to reflect this subtlety?
There are two questions that must be answered to understand a person or collective identity. The first is "Who do you think you are?" the other is "What's the big idea?" This goes a long way to answering those questions about our fellow Ricos.
Jun '10
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
I'm not seeing the "conservative girls are hotter" category.... Maybe that just comes under "virtue of others."
Jan '11
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
I followed a fairly standard path to being conservative: I grew up. Would that count as Logica Evictus Sum?
Nov '10
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
Good post, thank you for this.
Aug '12
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
When I was perhaps 11 or 12, I started reading the editorial pages...partly because I enjoyed following the arguments. My parents were not overly political -- dad was a registered independent, mom a registered Democrat, FWIW.
Having duly informed myself about the issues, I realized I was essentially aligned with the Republican party. Why? Simply because I realized that, of America's two major political parties, the Republicans were the only one that was not stark raving bonkers.
Here's another story: Knowing my interest in astronomy, my parents (probably at my mom's behest) bought me a book copy of Carl Sagan's Cosmos for a Christmas gift -- the last chapter of which is a plea for nuclear disarmament. I was uncomfortable with this idea because I figured it would only work if we could be absolutely certain the Soviets had given up their weapons (I figured they would try to trick us). I considered this objection so obvious that I searched the chapter thoroughly, figuring Sagan would address it...to no avail.
Such were my boyhood impressions. I have never seen any reason to change them. I think my boyhood self got matters basically right.
May '11
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
While 'interaction with liberals' was definitely a major influence on my choice (and continued interaction continues to reaffirm this), the clincher for me was economic issues. As in, the more I studied them, the more I found myself tilting right.
In particular I credit Russ Roberts and his Econtalk podcast, the Cato Institute blog, a gentle nudge from David Mamet, even a little Ayn Rand... but funnily enough, it was only after reading Ricochet for a month or two before I realized I was standing entirely on the other side of the line. Does that count as Virtue of Others?
May '10
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
My own personal pie chart:
Apr '11
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
Where's the category for "If it doesn't belong to you keep your hands off or I'll thump you on the head"? Would that fall into Family? Always? Others? Or, a desire for the lack of pain?
Jun '12
Re: "Why Are You Conservative?" In a Pie Chart
Fascinating. Great post, and excellent effort in quatifying the responses. Intriguing that converts are the largest plurality.