Quite recently we started looking for a school for our elder kid. After some hesitation, we dismissed the government schools - since we knew that they were horrible. The only decent option was to go to private schools. Now, I hope you understand that we are not super rich, and it's not easy for us to afford a private school. Moreover, both of us, my wife and I are non-religious Jews, which meant christian schools were out of question. One school that caught our attention was a secular private school, pretty expensive, excellent SAT scores, good statistics for university admissions. One thing among others caught my attention. During the interview we asked the school buerucrat about the kids who go to that school, and whether the private school prepares them to live in a real world, not in a gated community. The answer was quite amazing - we were told that the teachers understand our concerns, and that they do everything possible to let the kids understand the world and the community. One of the things they do is to send kids regularily to work in the kitchens for the poor folks.

Now, think about it. Say, you are from a very rich family. You are surrounded by rich kids in the kindergarten, school, university. Your neighbors are rich. The only people you see who are out of your circle are the bums, drug addicts and the like. I wonder if this is what pushes rich kids to become liberal and elitist. That - and ubel-liberal propaganda in schools and universities.

What do you think?

I believe it is also because they never had to work for it as well

..... participating in charity and services like soup kitchens for the poor was limited to liberals.

I also never knew that rich kids became liberals more often than poor or working class kids.

I think you're working with a lot of very strange assumptions there.

I too have made my kids work in a soup kitchen several times so that they can both help someone else and also to help them realize just how well off they have it

has many affluent areas, and in most of those places - like Palo Alto, or Marin, or Piedmont - most of the people are liberal, and most of the school districts are vey good.

So,what's the problem here. why is it a problem that in many areas rich people are liberal, the schools are good, and their kids go to college.

I see no problem at all.

social work.

My eldest daughter grauated from collge 2 years ago and is working with a non-profit agency that is involved in youth development - reaching kids that are in tough areas, getting into programs that encourage education and work skills.

My youngest (in college) annually does work for a group that does "habitat for humanity" like projects.

We're (my family) liberals and we live in a very liberal area. What my kids do is not limited to liberal kids, They're just trying to make a small difference by acting on their beliefs.

are earning their living - instead they are doing "social work". Well, that's an interesting situation, one may say. No wonder they are liberals.

a learned behavior

the youngest is a college freshman so no, she doesn't have a steady job right now.

The other is a paid professional - not an investment banker or a chip-designer -and she is working in a job that she likes and it happens to be social work. Are you saying that there is no value in projects that reach kids, that help them to continue education and develop job/work skills(Why ask, you're conservative, so I guess not.)

Are you saying that conservative youth are not involved in such projects? You're kidding, right.

... anything. That is a fraudulent assumption.

It's funny Al.....

There are some conservatives here who insist that it is conservatives who are more giving than liberals of their time and their money to charitable causes.

Yet Gringo's whole notion of "conservative" and "liberal" seems to embody the exact oppostie

a type of intellectual cover to his anti-liberal stereotyping.

The schools are good in affluent liberal areas? Gringo says it can't be.

My kids are involved in worthwhile social projects? Gringo says they don't have jobs, it has no real worth.

Sometimes Gringo is a cartoon.

is that they cannot hear anything that is not 100% in tune with their views.

I never knew that participating in charity and services like soup kitchens for the poor was limited to liberals. Well, And where exactly did I say so? My point was that in one expensive private school, the teachers think that the best way for the kids to meet the people outside of their rich circles is to go and work in the kitchens for the bums. Now, in reality, this means they meet a very narrow circle of people, who in no way represent the majority of Americans, and their view of America is very skewed. This is partly where they learn about America of have and have nots, rich and poor.

I also never knew that rich kids became liberals more often than poor or working class kids.

Again, I did not make this claim, but in reality I would not be surprised that kids of very rich parents, kids, who inherit millions of dollars and don't have to do a proper day's job to earn their living, are more likely to be liberal than kids of middle class parents.

I think you're working with a lot of very strange assumptions there.

You failed to properly describe my assumptions...

while you are paying her tuition and living expenses. That sounds right to you?

Your older chose some low paying job - again, to feel good about herself. Hm. Is this the best she could do with her mind? Did she, btw, pay back all the tuition that you paid for her?

Are you saying that there is no value in projects that reach kids, that help them to continue education and develop job/work skills(Why ask, you're conservative, so I guess not.)

Personally, I believe the value is rather small. But tell me more, what kids need to "continue education" and develop job/work skills? And why they are not taught that all in government run schools? Why can't those kids learn the skills on the jobs?

Are you saying that conservative youth are not involved in such projects? You're kidding, right.

I am sure they are. Moreover, I never said conservatives don't do "community work". But this is not relevant to my post, really.