2008 Woodie Awards
The impending liberal extinction
Ben Duffy, Collegian columnist
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Editorial / Opinion
The San Francisco Chronicle elaborates: "Liberal women are statistically more likely to delay childbirth into later years than are conservative women, and they may also be more open to abortion, although the data is unclear. Gays and lesbians, who vote Democratic by a roughly 4-1 ratio, are much less likely to have children than heterosexuals. Some on the left advocate fewer children as being 'socially responsible' to lessen the toll on the planet's finite resources."
By no means do I advocate abortion, not even to reduce the population of liberals. Yes, I want liberals to be "socially responsible," but not by killing their children in the womb.
Nonetheless, the idea of anemic liberal birthrates gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside that I can only compare to being seven years old on Christmas morning. I'm absolutely giddy, and it's as if I'm bounding down the stairs to see what Santa has left me. As I think of the future of the "progressive movement," I envision silver-haired liberals growing old somewhere in the Pioneer Valley, with nothing but their Subarus and organic vegetables to keep them company. There will be no pitter-pattering of grandchildren's feet, because they will have voluntarily removed themselves from the gene pool.
Parents have a large influence on the political preferences of their children. With some exception, liberal parents tend to raise liberal children and conservative parents tend to raise conservative children. Commenting on the political fertility gap, Syracuse University professor Arthur Brooks stated: "80 percent of people that express a political party preference are voting like their folks."
My only fear about the fertility gap is what liberals will do in their desperation to maintain power. One of their traditional methods is to find a group of people that is normally unable to vote (felons, illegal immigrants and the deceased) and somehow get them to the polls - legally or otherwise. Hence the push for "immigration reform" among most Democrats. Many Republicans - including our president - have their own unsavory reasons for "immigration reform," but the Democrats' motivation is largely political. If they could only get some documents for these "undocumented Americans," as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called them, they would win the loyalty of Latinos for the foreseeable future.
By no means do I advocate abortion, not even to reduce the population of liberals. Yes, I want liberals to be "socially responsible," but not by killing their children in the womb.
Nonetheless, the idea of anemic liberal birthrates gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside that I can only compare to being seven years old on Christmas morning. I'm absolutely giddy, and it's as if I'm bounding down the stairs to see what Santa has left me. As I think of the future of the "progressive movement," I envision silver-haired liberals growing old somewhere in the Pioneer Valley, with nothing but their Subarus and organic vegetables to keep them company. There will be no pitter-pattering of grandchildren's feet, because they will have voluntarily removed themselves from the gene pool.
Parents have a large influence on the political preferences of their children. With some exception, liberal parents tend to raise liberal children and conservative parents tend to raise conservative children. Commenting on the political fertility gap, Syracuse University professor Arthur Brooks stated: "80 percent of people that express a political party preference are voting like their folks."
My only fear about the fertility gap is what liberals will do in their desperation to maintain power. One of their traditional methods is to find a group of people that is normally unable to vote (felons, illegal immigrants and the deceased) and somehow get them to the polls - legally or otherwise. Hence the push for "immigration reform" among most Democrats. Many Republicans - including our president - have their own unsavory reasons for "immigration reform," but the Democrats' motivation is largely political. If they could only get some documents for these "undocumented Americans," as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called them, they would win the loyalty of Latinos for the foreseeable future.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
ulaikamor
posted 10/10/07 @ 9:00 AM EST
Although they have only themselves to blame, I'm pretty sure they'll find someone else to blame for this. Probably another evil conspiracy by the Bush Admnistration to destroy freedom and democracy. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 10/10/07 @ 9:32 AM EST
wow. nothing like a hate filled republican bashing liberals to start off the day.
One of my favorite ironies is how childish and petty conservative republicans are. (Continued…)
njoriole
posted 10/10/07 @ 5:20 PM EST
That's "sowing" the seeds. (Nobody applies a needle and thread to seeds, now do they?) Otherwise, this article describes fairly well what James taranto of the WS Journal's "Best of the Web Today" blog calls "the Roe effect. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 10/12/07 @ 1:26 AM EST
"silver-haired liberals growing old somewhere in the Pioneer Valley"
I see you've met my sister (now 35) and her boyfriend:
Sister: Birds are nice. (Continued…)
Blair
posted 10/12/07 @ 1:31 PM EST
I disagree that "Contrary to popular belief, conservatives enjoy sex." I think conservatives enjoy sex very much, though I worry about the way they engage appropriately in comparison to their public facade. (Continued…)
Blair
posted 10/12/07 @ 1:32 PM EST
I have several problems with this essay, most are with the merits, and one is on the overall tone. I also contest several references to blatant and false characterizations of liberals and their policies but I will avoid those issues in this response. (Continued…)
anon
posted 10/15/07 @ 10:48 AM EST
Every day, the Editorial Opinion pages are filled with false and unsupported blanket generalizations about groups of people, or columns that sound like a bar room rant that they decided to type up and send. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 10/16/07 @ 3:32 PM EST
What a hoot. Obviously the writer is delusional if he thinks that the US is becoming more conservative, even with "conservatives" having more kids and liberals having only the number they want, often adopting rather than bringing new mouths into the planet to feed. (Continued…)
leebert
posted 10/27/07 @ 10:07 AM EST
The question is ideological drift, and whether the progeny of the next big demographic trend, latin catholics and mormons, will retain their conservative nature in this century. (Continued…)
Kristy
posted 3/05/08 @ 1:07 PM EST
I am Consevative and Child Free. I think you meant the Christian Right will take over sir. The rabid religious faithful that think babies are God's gift and the only purpose one has in life. (Continued…)
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