Harvard: Fourth of July parades turn kids into Republicans?
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God, guns and country embody Republicans on the fourth of July
There’s no question that the Righties are all about God, guns, and fierce nationalism, especially on the fourth of July. Their fiery rhetoric and often repeated historical inaccuracies as uttered by Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, are part of the American landscape. As a result it comes as no surprise that a recent study showed that children can often be influenced to share Republican ideals by the pomp and circumstance that accompanies a good old Independence Day parade.
While I hate comparisons to the National Socialists of Hitler’s Germany, the fact is that the youth of the Third Reich were influenced by the pageantry of the Nazi’s propaganda machine:
History shows us that pomp and circumstance count for something, and our Independence Day parades often show the power and might of the United States, never failing to instill a spirit of pride in all who attend, especially the young. It seems that no less than Harvard University, as reported by U.S. News, has discovered just how much influence patriotic flag waving may have on America’s youth:
Democratic political candidates can skip this weekend’s July 4th parades. A new Harvard University study finds that July 4th parades energize only Republicans, turn kids into Republicans, and help to boost the GOP turnout of adults on Election Day.
“Fourth of July celebrations in the United States shape the nation’s political landscape by forming beliefs and increasing participation, primarily in favor of the Republican Party,” said the report from Harvard.
“The political right has been more successful in appropriating American patriotism and its symbols during the 20th century. Survey evidence also confirms that Republicans consider themselves more patriotic than Democrats. According to this interpretation, there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and the values associated with the Republican party. Fourth of July celebrations in Republican dominated counties may thus be more politically biased events that socialize children into Republicans,” write Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor David Yanagizawa-Drott and Bocconi University Assistant Professor Andreas Madestam.
Their findings also suggest that Democrats gain nothing from July 4th parades, likely a shocking result for all the Democratic politicians who march in them.
“There is no evidence of an increased likelihood of identifying as a Democrat, indicating that Fourth of July shifts preferences to the right rather than increasing political polarization,” the two wrote.
The three key findings of those attending July 4th celebrations:
- When done before the age of 18, it increases the likelihood of a youth identifying as a Republican by at least 2 percent.
- It raises the likelihood that parade watchers will vote for a Republican candidate by 4 percent.
- It boosts the likelihood a reveler will vote by about 1 percent and increases the chances they’ll make a political contribution by 3 percent.
What’s more, the impact isn’t fleeting. “Surprisingly, the estimates show that the impact on political preferences is permanent, with no evidence of the effects depreciating as individuals become older,”said the Harvard report.
Finally, the report suggests that if people are looking for a super-patriotic July 4th, though should head to Republican towns. “Republican adults celebrate Fourth of July more intensively in the first place.”
Tell us what you think about the influences of Independence Day parades on our children.
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I think a lot of people have forgotten that the original Americans were a bunch of rebels who challenged the authority of the pompous, self righteous, and self declared rulers of this country just as the Republicans claim to be. The Democrats are the only ones left that truly believe that it is part of the government’s responsibility to care about all of its people, not just the wealthy.
In Tulsa, I’ll be watching the local fireworks display with a loose knit group called Drinking Liberally, have already got my US flag out waving in the breeze, and will riding my bubble machine equipped festival bicycle in a neighborhood parade. I do think the Democratic party needs to emphasize the “I Love America” aspects of our belief systems more, instead of being too cool for school. I also believe loving my country does not have to mean I believe we are God’s chosen people(No offense, Mike!)
Fireworks are dangerous to all concerned. They distress pets, start fires, and maim people, not to mention that they are incredibly noisy. I hate fireworks.
I don’t know…
I loved parades and fireworks as a kid, and grew up to be a radical progressive!
Should see the load of fireworks I got stocked up to set off myself!
This study states what I have known since I was a child. Republicans are indeed more patriotic. And don’t think your attempt to subliminally link patriotic Americans with nazis went unnoticed.
I really don’t think it was subliminal Milton.
Just depends upon how you define “patriotic”. I am sure that the Republicans in the ’30s that were working on a coup against FDR would assure you that they were being patriotic. I am sure that Nixon considered himself to be a patriot. I feel that the Republicans have a very narrow view of what it means to be an American and a patriot. It twists and turns. At one moment not being a vet or not having fought in Vietnam is bad and in a few seconds they will call the patriotism of a wounded and decorated Vietnam vet into doubt. I used to be a Republican and I grew up and wised up.
Patriotic pageants have been used by many authoritarians…Stalin, Mao, Hitler…the buttons pushed in such things speak to the authoritarian personality. You don’t find many wine snobs at AA, tree huggers at drag strips, and Mormons in bars and since a lot of the buttons being pushed in some “patriotic” celebrations are being pushed in a way to appeal to a certain type of person I don’t enjoy a lot of them. I’d guess a lot of people also think and find that they know a better way to celebrate our country than engage in some mindless flag waving. I’ll spend my time at a cemetery or other site thinking of our veteran’s sacrifices (some in vain) and how as a country we have done many great things and some not so great things and we need to remember both, celebrate the good and learn from the bad. Some seem to think we need to forget about the bad…I guess so that we can make the same mistakes again and again. I’ll spend part of the day in a cemetery looking at at the resting places of some that have paid the price of that “logic”.