does getting rich make people lean to the right?

[pstokely]

a lot of boomers who said they would never vote Repub became rich and now vote Repub

[Sean Reynolds]

1. Depends.

There are still some good left-leaning rich people. I think MOST rich people today that are Republican have been Republican for a LONG time, meaning they probably have been rich for a long time.

You look at the people that started at the bottom and moved up, and most are left-leaning.

[Dob Bole]

2. yes, actually

Studies have shown that people become more conservative with wealth and more liberal with education. Don't ask me for the studies, I don't have them.

[PretzelWarrior]

3. its the ones who stoned their brains out at concerts in 70's and 80s

the ones with conscience and money still support liberal ideals.

the abverse is true. there's lots of drunk ass poor folks who vote Republican--kind of like paying for the rope that will hang them.

[HEyHEY]

4. People are people

You may as well ask "DOes getting rich make people go to the bathroom more?"

[lkinsale]

5. No.

I frankly pay more in taxes than the average american makes in salary. I don't like to pay taxes, of course, but I'm perfectly well aware of my incredible good fortune in life. I've been lucky in my career (I hope personal talent has something to do with it, and I work hard too) and I've been fortunate in many other ways. I figure I owe a great deal back to my country and to other people.

It makes me angry that anyone could have as much as someone like me and begrudge people who work just as hard (frankly far harder) and can barely get by. Well, I could list a hundred things that make me angry about conservativism as it is today, but no...to answer your question...getting rich doesn't make you lean right. It's the opposite in my case.

[GCP]

13. I agree with you completely, as someone who pays a lot in taxes

I was lucky enough to be born into a supportive loving (but poor) family. I was lucky enough to be born with brains and in a country that would pay my education through university, (England). I was lucky enough to find my soul-mate who also has brains and together we have made a very good life for ourselves through hard work.

Many people do not have the advantages that I did through no fault of their own. Maybe their families are long-term unemployed through disability, or have drug and alcohol problems, or are just unable to make it in the Darwinian atmosophere that's taken over in the US since Reagan.


I believe that we are all part of society, that we have to support the weakest in society, otherwise we as a people are lessened by our apathy and disdain of others.

I pay a lot in taxes. I wish the millionaires paid a whole lot more than they do.

Being liberal and well off is not mutually exclusive. There are plenty of examples.

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[otohara]

15. So Many People Say...I'm Socially Liberal, But

I want those tax cuts. Money rules over social concerns and many rich people I know vote their wallets first...ala GOP

[whathappened]

6. getting rich

i can't speak for any body but myself , but if i hit the lotto i'm dam sure i would'nt become something i have never been my whole life , mean , greedy , and elf centered , i would make the rest of my life , spending time helping those who have nothing and living a life of hell trying to keep afloat . this is what money is about , shareing and helping

[leftyandproud]

7. no

look at the senate...the richest ones are the dems..
Look at corporate America...billionaires, Ben & Jerrys, Ted Turner, etc are very progressive. I don't think money has any effect at all on your politics.

[w4rma]

8. I'll bet that inheriting wealth makes folks lean to the right (n/t)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

9. ask bill gates and warren buffet

[leftofthedial]

10. or does leaning to the right make people rich?

I'm a boomer and (though it's hard to believe such a thing is possible) I've gotten MORE liberal. Ditto many of my oldest friends.

The freeper/dittohead contingent among my circle of acquaintances were all always conservative or downright reactionary.

[cmf]

11. No, being greedy makes people lean to the right. n/t

[SeattleDem]

12. ditto - greed and selfishness

and the inability to empathize with anyone outside your set of friends.

[Mz Pip]

14. The section of the country

I live in has one of the highest income per capita and highest education level per capita regions in the country. It went 8-1 for Gore in 2000.

I seem to remember some blather from Carl Rove about how important it was to get people to be Republicans before they got educated. Rich and educated is a bad combo for Repubs, at least according to Carl Rove.

MzPip
:dem:

[Aristus]

16. I'm not rich, but I am much better off financially than I was five years

ago, or so. I've gotten more liberal, not less. Even as recently as three years ago, I was still in favor of the death penalty. Not anymore. I would have been happy to see my tax money go to education, renovation of the infrastructure, mass transit, public assistance programs and environmental protection. Instead, my taxes are financing an illegal war for oil that is killing hundreds of Americans and thousands of "liberated Iraqis."

Nope. Don't think I'll turn to the right anytime soon.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. Depends on how they got rich

Basically greedy people who start out poor or middle class often get rich, because every fibre of their being is directed at acquiring money, and if they're successful, then they become rich greedheads. They were always greedy, but their money makes them powerful.

If I were to win Powerball or something equally unlikely, well, I've lived long enough to know that life isn't fair, and that not all people who work hard get rich. I'd put aside a huge chunk of my winnings to start a charitable foundation to help some of my pet causes.

[midnitemoleman]

18. YES YES YES

My sister grew up just like the rest of us kids poor! Her husband get's killed by a drunk pizza delivery driver and she get's just under 30 million. She now works to help the GOP and has no contact woth the rest of us. So yes I guess money does change people!