What is it that makes young people conservative? I’ve had many arguments with young Republicans who have perfectly legitimate political arguments, but I still can’t understand what makes them conservative.

Like many young people, I was initially influenced by my parents’ values. They are both educators in the public school system, so it’s not surprising they would have liberal tendencies.

Admittedly, the basis for my political stance can be attributed to my parents. Still, my political views now often sway more liberal than even my parents are ready to accept.

Lately, my views on drug legalization and freedom of expression have caused clashes with my parents - expectedly.

College students are supposed to be radical.

Unfortunately, many conservatives today are people with college educations who are likely making good amounts of money.

I, on the other hand, have no hope of making lots of money after graduation, which is good and bad.

Of course, my low income as a journalist will be less than enviable, but at least I don’t face the prospect of becoming a fat-cat Republican.

While my views were inadvertently shaped by my parents, my rebellious teen-age years have given me a chance to form my own ideas.

It is completely understandable that young folk may sway conservative because of their parents, but it seems like those tendencies would change when they got to college.

This university, like others, is an enormous forum for ideas. Students can get involved in a multitude of different clubs and events, from the campus branch of the American Civil Liberties Union to the Free Tibet club.

What would motivate young people to lean conservative? They can’t be making large amounts of money. If they’re rolling in dough, it’s because of their parents.

It’s hard to imagine that many college students are tied to big business, but again, their parents come to mind.

The Republican Party today is particularly disgusting. President Bush’s administration is making one bad decision after another. Since taking office, he has surprised the country with ultra-conservative moves like retracting foreign aid and proposing oil drilling in Alaska.

Despite the outcry expressed in major national media, the country seems to be buying Bush’s “energy crisis.” Nevertheless, as the Republican Party moves right, it is leaving moderates behind.

My reasons for being a Democrat are based upon compassion. It seems harsh, but sometimes I wonder how much Republicans care about others.

They usually don’t support social programs. Their ingenious idea of helping out the man on the bottom is trickle-down economics - we’ve seen what a great idea that was.

The lack of foreign aid to countries supporting planned parenthood makes me wonder where the “compassionate” comes from in “compassionate conservatism.”

Tied to big business, conservatives spend a lot of time looking out for themselves and their own interests. This does not necessarily describe all Republicans, but certainly many on Capitol Hill.

I am beginning to think young Republicans are sorely uninformed. Arguments with friends who are politically right of center usually end when they run out of things to say.

Actually, the arguments often involve me ranting and raising my blood pressure while they simply inform me I’m wrong, giving no support to their arguments.

There are even more young people who claim they are independent, which usually means they don’t know anything about politics.

Even more frustrating are the young Republicans who have firm beliefs and strong support for their arguments, but I do have more respect for them than the uninformed ones.

Young Republicans are very curious. While the rest of us support the freedom of a woman’s right to choose and programs like Medicare, the Republican kids are spouting fiscal policy - at least the ones I know.

Here’s my call to action for all young people: Please, take a good look at your values, or figure out what they are. Consider issues like abortion rights, energy policy, foreign policy, the environment and social programs. Then line them up with the values of major political parties and decide where you fall on the spectrum.

Ryan Weltzer, State News opinion writer, will be more than happy to entertain your arguments or queries, political or otherwise, if you e-mail him at weltzerr@msu.edu.