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Article: Born to party New research suggests that our basic political attitudes - liberal, conservative, or otherwise - are with us at birth. What does this mean for our democracy?
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- November 2, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2008 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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As we cast our vote for president on Tuesday, we may imagine that
our choice is based on a thoughtful consideration of the issues,
shaped, perhaps, by past experience and our circumstances, such as
where we live and whom we speak with. In large part, we assume, our
vote is something over which we exert conscious, mental control.
Media coverage reinforces this assumption, with "Decision '08"
monikers and endless charts of candidates' positions and party
platforms. Indeed, our vision of democracy is founded on the belief
that voters actually consider both candidates and make a rational
decision as to which one is best for America.
Yet scientists are now discovering that our political ...