At what age do you feel most adults become politically aware and active?

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   tsmogposted 7 years ago

   At what age do you feel most adults become politically aware and active?
   
   Generally, does it fade as one enters a period of life, career, and family development because of those time demands?

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2. 59

   kj forceposted 7 years ago

   I feel once a person reaches the age of maturity: ( they realize birth and death are the only things in life that are a guarantee) there is an awakening ,,,.and they start preparing for retirement which involves political awareness....

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   1. 83

      tsmogposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Good point. I did realize more when I thought of how the government affected my future.

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   Becky Katzposted 7 years ago

   It really doesn't matter how old you are or how busy, it matters that you feel strongly about a candidate or a position that one has. You will make time if you feel strongly about something.
   My daughter has been politically aware for several years and she is just 19. She still has a lot to learn about how things work best, but she is vehement about the ideas she has. My husband was the same way until he died in his late 60s. They both put in a lot of time discussing things and have both volunteered to help campaign for someone they felt strongly about. I am not really politically active, but sometimes have just felt a strong need to campaign for someone. I have campaigned for someone because I really disagreed with the person they were running against. I really wish I had campaigned for an Independent in this last Presidential election.

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   1. 83

      tsmogposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      About eighteen is when I became politically aware paying attention to the news, reading on issues, and activism. My activism faded about 26 as life stuff took over.

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4. 92

   Nathanvilleposted 7 years ago

   In Britain, and I assume its similar in America, most people these days are politically aware, with some becoming politically active, by the age of 16; so there are youth sections for most main stream political parties in colleges. 
   
   In recognition of this Scotland lowered the voting age from 18 to 16 for their 2014 referendum on Independence.  In the referendum 84.6% of the Scottish population voted, but only 44.7% of those voted in favour of Independence.  In the 16 and 17 age group, 75% voted, with 62% voting in favour of Independence.
   
   As a result of what the Scottish Parliament did, over 60% of the British people in opinion polls now want the voting age lowered to 16; so there is growing pressure on the British Government to low the voting age for future elections.  Albeit (although the House of Lords is in favour of lowering the voting age) with the present hard-line Government there is little likelihood of that happening in the foreseeable future.

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   1. 83

      tsmogposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Wow! That is news Arthur about age 16 for voting. I did not know the voting age lowered by Scotland for that referendum. That made a difference as you shared.

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   Michael-Milecposted 7 years ago

   It depends at what age the "political drama' afflict you, I suppose. At age six I had chance to witness a political conflict of occupation by neighboring country only three years later to become 'active' in ressistance yet to more oppresive  third country, nazis war  machine, not to mantion of Soviet Army marching through our region  at the end of ww2. Was I " politicaly" aware ? Very much so. Have I become politically active ? Not at all, never. I have decided to maintain happy and healthy spirit soul and body, by avoiding falsly pretended " patriotism" by two opposite parties fighting for their personal prestige on acount of hard working decent citizens.

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   1. 92

      Nathanvilleposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Very well expressed; my mother and grandmother lived through the Bristol blitz and graphically described their experiences to me; 1st night whole horizon glowed red as the city burnt.  So although I didn’t experience WW2, I can empathise with you.

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      Michael Milecposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Sir Mr Arthur Russ . Seeing war 'trophies' of mostly young men and women made vivid impression in my early childhood that any war isn't a necessity rather well calculated by the politicians for the dirty filthy greed. Up to now, it is being so

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   tamarawilhiteposted 7 years ago

   Yes, it fades as one moves away from indoctrination on college campuses and face the real world. Even Millenials' support for socialism declines the longer they work.

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      Becky Katzposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      I keep waiting for my daughter to grow up and face reality, but she is just a freshman in college. I will feel much better when she gets past her idealism. Someone has to pay for socialism and I can't afford for it to be me.

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