"Possible Effects on the Political Beliefs of American Voters"

"Possible Effects on the Political Beliefs of American Voters"

Many factors affect the way American citizens view political ideas and decisions. Often one's environment or background strongly influences the opinions that one develops over time. However, while these variables make an impact on American political beliefs, they cannot always predict how an entire group will vote.
One's family background generally shapes a person's political views. Children begin identifying with their parents' political beliefs very early in life. By fifth grade, over half of American children identify with a specific party, and another fifth claim to be independents. As children grow older, they take on even more of their parents' views. By the time they are finishing high school, only nine percent of children identify with the party opposite to that of their parents. Although once children leave the nest, their parents' influence lessens; about sixty percent of American adults retain the same...