Comments:US children who celebrate Independence Day more likely to become Republicans, says Harvard study

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The author of this article seems to be drawing a spurious correlation at best from the data. Beyond that, the way in which this information is presented seems to assume causation from a correlative study.

I loved the 4th as a child and am a Democrat today.

My thought is that the designers of this study are uncomfortable with unironic patriotism and wanted some data to politicize the holiday. That would be the first step to get rid of public financing of the celebration.

I see the celebration as a way to express gratitude for the blessings of liberty which so many do not have. To care about disenfranchisment we first need to appreciate and celebrate the value of our own rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Why? Why is this a subject of study? I am left to make the logical assumption that the reason for this analysis is to somehow show that attending July 4th activities as a child is somehow unfair to democrats??? This pushes me to make the next assumption that voting republican is somehow a bad thing in the eyes of the authors.

Bottom line, it is sad to see Harvard, considered to be one of our brightest institutions, with professors creating such crap! Especially right now when it is obvious Keynesian economic policy has failed the US. Out of all the things people could analyze we have professors from Harvard analyzing rainfall on the 4th of July to determine if they vote Republican... How pathetic!

Just to put more salt on this wound before I stop writing... I can't wait to see what increased taxes, inflation, another stimulus package and increased healthcare costs do for this country. All while our federal government allows the deficit to spiral out of control!!! Then you add on some illegal immigration, entitlements offered to everyone who wants to sit on their butt all day and 3 wars that we shouldn't be in... Is this the CHANGE you were looking for?

Pathetic!

The study isn't described well enough to understand the findings. (How many subjects were in it, how did they collect the data etc.)

• From the ABC news article:

"The findings leave some questions unanswered, a contention that David Yanagizawa-Drott, the assistant professor of public policy of Harvard University's Kennedy School who co-wrote the study with Andreas Madestam of Bocconi University, seems to acknowledge."

"One thing not addressed in the report is that nearly every kid in America attends Fourth of July celebrations, but the Republican Party is a minority party."

• From the CBS news article (which seems to make fun of the study)

"This is all based off of several assumptions, and whether or not they are generally regarded as truth is beside the point. Repeated over time, there is no way that the results would read the same or true. This study is a preliminary investigation and while it has its merits in terms of logic and persuasion, it lacks in cold hard irrefutable and repeatable data."

"Algorithms and rain charts aside, allowing or participating in 4th of July events probably won't be too dangerous in socializing your children or yourself, than what your child's best friend's parents believe or what is taught in school."

"Just to be on the safe side though, if you're liberal don't feed your child too many hotdogs and cap the fireworks to 15 minutes top. (We kid.)"

you stupid republican! what have you done stupid bush totally killed the county launched a war and spent billions putting us into a stupid budget cutting taxes is not the answer you stupid idiot!

One complication here is that political dynamics are a moving target. If someone is at least 40 years old, and attended a Fourth of July event without rain before they were 18, that means they attended the event either while, or before, Ronald Reagan was president. One wonders how this correlation might vary depending on what year the person attended the event, or what year the person turned forty.

It'd also be fascinating to know how the probability of good weather on July 4 varies with geographical region of the country.

Or families who of fervent republican persuasion are more likely to be fair weather 4th July flag waving gay celebrants. ;)

US children who celebrate Independence Day more likely to become non voters, because the "non-voters party" is the majority party in the US with approximately 60% of the voting-eligible population in the US General Election 2010.
Anyway, why this article has been categorized under category: Science and technology? There is nothing about science or technology here, but mere propaganda. –pjoef (talk • contribs) 16:40, 3 July 2011 (UTC)

It was a scientific study (whatever its flaws as such).

... which said, yeah, you're right; it's really not category-worthy.

I agree with the spectacle attendee's being more likely to never vote. I do not see the correlation between fireworks and Republicanism. I do think there is a correlation between those who attend organized religious ceremonies and Republican voting since the violations of the Constitution by both the Republicans and their friends within religion are matters of historical fact. The insane number of US citizens who do not vote has more to do with our dishonest elections than any other factor. I have to vote inside a Baptist church near my home which is a direct and overt violation of the US Constitution. I have sent many letters to the Election Board in my county (St. Charles, Mo.) to no avail. I have wittinessed vote suppression by County officials by means of not supplying enough machines at our church ballot place. I went to vote in a Presidential race and it took over an hour and one half to get to the machines. There were four machines---we normally had 20. When I got home I called and complained. I checked two hours later and the lines were down to normal after the correct number of machines were brought out--yes I looked in to verify. Republicans love stopping and making difficult as possible all voting activity as they win big when the count is down. Conclusion is Republicans are scum, criminal, sleazy, self serving, religious con artists!

Yea, strange is the day when the obvious revelation that jingoism is Republican becomes news. 68.7.64.48 (talk) 19:31, 3 July 2011 (UTC)