Politics and Genes

Not nature vs. nurture, but geneology vs. ideology. Call me a skeptic, but I have a hard time buying the science behind a genetic predisposition to being a conservative Republican. If you believe this article in the NY Times, though, there is such a link.

Political scientists have long held that people's upbringing and experience determine their political views. A child raised on peace protests and Bush-loathing generally tracks left as an adult, unless derailed by some powerful life experience. One reared on tax protests and a hatred of Kennedys usually lists to the right.

But on the basis of a new study, a team of political scientists is arguing that people's gut-level reaction to issues like the death penalty, taxes and abortion is strongly influenced by genetic inheritance. The new research builds on a series of studies that indicate that people's general approach to social issues - more conservative or more progressive - is influenced by genes.

Well, at least some of you have something to blame it on :).