Do We Get Our Political Opinions from Our Parents?

From left to right: My Papa, Me, My Mumma, My big sister and her husband Simon.
At my sisters 30th birthday party in February. 

I recently read an article on BBC news concerning Ed Miliband, and where he got his political ideals from. On Saturday, the Daily Mail ran a profile of Ralph Miliband called 'The Man who hated Britain'. According to the Daily Mail, it was okay for them to run it because the political views on the deceased lecturer, were passed on to his sons and down the generations. However, Ed Miliband denied these claims saying that he has: 'pursued a different path' and that he has a 'different vision'. He also said that he was appalled by the mail's actions, and that it was a 'character assassination' of a man that had served in the Royal Navy throughout WW2 after escaping Nazi persecution. In the UK, the Cecil family have been involved in Conservative politics for more that 200 years - there is definitely some kind of pattern there... isn't there? Although, Tony Blair grew up in a Tory household. So it isn't true that you follow in your parents footsteps. Some go completely against their parents ideals - I think its a way of rebelling entirely against them. This sparked to me to think about where my own political ideals stemmed from, and where the general public got theirs from. Personally, I think some of my political ideas stemmed from my parents. Of course there are things we disagree on within politics, because I've always had my own opinion on things, and quite frankly I love to try and change their minds about numerous things! But I think my surroundings and the way I was brought up as a child definitely contributed to my political persuasion. I also think having the opportunity to study political ideologies at school throughout my a levels, helped me find where I would place myself on the political spectrum. It's safe to say that the politics I was exposed to at home helped me to decide that I wanted to study politics at university. I always loved a good debate with my family, whenever I could have one.

I asked a few people what their opinions were on this subject: 


Obviously people are influenced by those they grow up with, but, otherwise you are free to make your 
own mind up on politics or any other subject. My dad was a Conservative vote - indeed pals with 
Viscount Whitelaw and a leading light of his local Conservative Club. But that's not automatically 
where my loyalties lie. I can - and do - make my own mind up depending on the issue, the 
circumstances and the personalities. I would say though that for younger voters especially the influence 
of their family may be stronger as they have simply had less experience of the world to draw on. 
Though, as a parent, I'd like to encourage my kids to make their own minds up when their time comes.

- Ellen Arnison of http://www.ellenarnison.com/
I got my political ideals from my mom who used to say the we need capitalists in order to have jobs

and then i was 13 when Maggie came to power and she encouraged people to better 

themselves no matter what background! As for my children I wanted to encourage them with her 

ideals and it has worked. You have both achieved your goals and are not frightened to go that one step 

further to get there.
- Louise McGuire, My mother.

I probably got my political ideals from my mother, I was brought up to believe you have to work hard 

to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads, to do this, the country needed capitalist

investment without the rich, there are no jobs. For my children and grandchildren

I would like honest and transparency in government policies. My mother was a single mother of 
8 children, she never had benefits, she had to work for us and didn't receive or claim any 
benefits. 
- Mary McGuire, My Nan.
So thats what other people have told me about their parents. What are your opinions on this matter? Do you think you got your political ideals from your parents? Tell me in the comments below, follow the blog and enter the giveaway if you haven't yet! 

http://www.coupleofidiots.com/2013/09/giveaway.html 
muchos love
ysabelle
xxxxx