Scriptures tell us we learn to judge things for ourselves at eight years of age. Why not at eleven or twelve, when we’re in the sixth grade?

For one who knows nothing about me, my upbringing, or my own intellectual development, you sure are making a number of accusations.

Whoopity doo, you’ve worked in sociology all of your life. I’m quite proud of this letter, for it shows my interest in world events and the body politic at a young age.

Indoctrination? Please. You make it sound as if I had nightly lessons from my parents on hot topics so as to instill me with a vendetta against all opposing forces.

You think it impossible for a sixth grader to have an opinion on something without parental “indoctrination”? Either you don’t have children of your own, or they are incapable of such self-autonomy, for I find it to be quite plausible.

Tone down the accusations next time, for stupidity is not a lack of understanding as you claim, but a rash arrogance without foundation, such as yours, showing one’s bias and ignorance.

And what is so wonderful about an indoctrinated world view, as opposed to exploring reality and discovering your own (even if that means coming back to that of your parents?)

I have worked in sociology all of my life, and I don’t mean to beseige you any pride in your personal politics, but this you have posted here is not something to be proud of, it is a travesty at how little we explore before forming our beliefs.

And without exploration and discovery, there can be no understanding, and without understanding, there is only stupidity.

But I do remember the first time I voted in a presidential election in 1980. I sent in an absentee ballot because I was overseas. The foreign coverage of the race made it look like Carter had it in the bag. The day after the election, a newsboy on the street called me over and asked if I was American (it was rather obvious). He got this huge smile on his face, pulled a paper out of his bag and asked, “Have you seen this yet?” He spread the front page out and showed me the biggest headline I’ve ever seen in any newspaper. Translated to English, all it said was, “PRESIDENT REAGAN!” He gave me the paper as a gift and walked away. I will never forget the great feeling I had the rest of that day. I still have that newspaper.

I was actually born in Santa Clara – in the Kaiser Hospital. Small world!

As the header of my blog indicates, I’m from Poway, CA (a suburb of San Diego). We moved there from San Jose when I was seven.

Ah silly me to have forgotten to look up there. I grew up in Santa Clara. We lived pretty close to each other when you were seven. :)

And yes, I miss California too. A great deal. However, I’m lovin’ New York City. :)

I had no interest whatsoever in anything political back then. But I do remember catching the debate(s) between Bush, Clinton and Perot. My impression of the debates were that Bush was pretty bad, Clinton was better (more to my liking), but in the end I cast my vote for Perot, not liking either Bush or Clinton enough to vote for them.

I seem to remember that Perot had more Utah support than any other state in the union.

Since the days of Bush the Younger, I have often wondered what the USA would look like today had Perot actually won. A stupid thought, really, since the PTB would never have allowed Perot to win. In fact, I wonder aloud whether the PTB allowed Perot airtime in order to split the vote to allow Clinton to be their “chosen one.”

As the header of my blog indicates, I’m from Poway, CA (a suburb of San Diego). We moved there from San Jose when I was seven.

Oh, California.. how I miss thee.

Bush and the government created 45 million jobs during his term.

Wow! He went through a recession and created 45 million jobs!!!

I remember the 1992 election well. That was my senior year. I turned 18 nine days after the election so I could not vote for Clinton as I had wanted to. I remember talking with Mr. Baer, my science teacher, and a Mormon, who did not like Clinton. I told him that I would have voted for Clinton if I could. In the primary, earlier that year, I really liked Paul Tsongas, of Massachusetts (and apparently so did Mitt Romney, as Mr. Romney voted for him in the Massachusetts primary—though a serial flopper, who knows if Romney did that because he actually agreed with Tsongas, or to satisfy Bay State voters for his eventual failed run as Senator in 1994).

Out of curiosity, where did you grow up, Connor?