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Seems most doctors are to the right and most lawyers to the left. This is my observation only in the USA.
That's been my observation as well. My BIL is a left leaning lawyer and every doc I know is a conservative with the exception of one Jewish radiologist, although he is quite fiscally conservative but socially liberal. He identifies with the democratic party though.
Why would anyone, let alone physicians, reveal their political philosophy to you?
In business, his job is healing, not politics.
You never talk about world events, news, elections with people you work with?? I think it's pretty easy to tell where someone's political ideology lies just by working/conversing with them every day. Maybe you don't work in an office with other people or you work from home?
I work in the financial division of a Fortune 500 company and I'd say it's split pretty much 50/50 in my department - there are more liberals here than most other similar departments around the country simply because the Twin Cities are more liberal than most places. (unfortunately) I myself have a bahelor and masters in economics and am one the most conservative people there.
I would say a doc with liberal tendencies tends to operate asap on anyone with a pulse. The more conservative docs try several things first, meds, Phys therapy etc then surgery as a last resort. Libs go straight for the $$$ first.Just my observation as an RN!
I'm actually quite surprised about the Doctors = right-wing, versus Lawyers = left-wing observation.
Here in Australia, both lawyers and doctors would I say lean at least slightly right-wing, although no more than you would expect for their income.
Indeed, my own intuition would be that out of the two, doctors would if anything be the more left/liberal of them. This is because of medicine being a 'giving' profession, whereas law not so (I'm not suggesting here that conservatives are 'un-giving' people, but you might assume that those in 'giving' occupations such as doctors, teachers, nurses, would have more of a liberal mindset).
Is the right-leaning tendencies of American doctors to do with 'Democrats = "socialised medicine"', feature of political debate in the US?
Here in Australia, the 'public VS private' health debate was resolved in the 1970's/1980's, so the issue is 'live' like in the US (meaning that there is no expection that massive changes to the public/private mix of health-care is expected in Australia, regardless of the political party in office.)
Given that there would seem to be an abundance of doctors commenting on this forum, I'm interested in what your observations are about the politics of American nurses?
Here in Australia, nurses are very left/liberal; which probably is at least party explained by the fact that here they are highly unionised (in fact they would be second only teachers in terms of public sector union militancy.
I'm actually quite surprised about the Doctors = right-wing, versus Lawyers = left-wing observation.
Here in Australia, both lawyers and doctors would I say lean at least slightly right-wing, although no more than you would expect for their income.
Indeed, my own intuition would be that out of the two, doctors would if anything be the more left/liberal of them. This is because of medicine being a 'giving' profession, whereas law not so (I'm not suggesting here that conservatives are 'un-giving' people, but you might assume that those in 'giving' occupations such as doctors, teachers, nurses, would have more of a liberal mindset).
Is the right-leaning tendencies of American doctors to do with 'Democrats = "socialised medicine"', feature of political debate in the US?
Here in Australia, the 'public VS private' health debate was resolved in the 1970's/1980's, so the issue is 'live' like in the US (meaning that there is no expection that massive changes to the public/private mix of health-care is expected in Australia, regardless of the political party in office.)
Given that there would seem to be an abundance of doctors commenting on this forum, I'm interested in what your observations are about the politics of American nurses?
Here in Australia, nurses are very left/liberal; which probably is at least party explained by the fact that here they are highly unionised (in fact they would be second only teachers in terms of public sector union militancy.
I am an old retired teacher who saw the light in 1972 when the Democrats(my party at the time) nominated an avowed socialist for President. That move drove me to the right and I have been going further ever since. I was still teaching at the time but not liberal enough to go along with the National Education Association. My wife is still teaching and she may well be at least as far right as I am.
I think that section of the nation has more to do with how people tend to lean. For instance, we live in a rural area where Democrats may win a local election, now and then, but few above the county level win here. Now in the larger cities where unions are more prevalent Dems are the party to represent.
BTW, I have an Aussie internet friend who is a small business man, and very successful, at that, who just doesn't like anything liberal. He put me on the recent happening that resulted in the new PM in Australia and he was very nice to explain how it happened and why. I feel really sorry for him since he is so conservative in a liberal leaning nation. We both thought John Howard was kind of a hero and look what Rudd has been like since Howard left.
This is a great thread since people are trying to be truthful with you instead of hacking at each other.
Here in Australia, the 'public VS private' health debate was resolved in the 1970's/1980's, so the issue is 'live' like in the US (meaning that there is no expection that massive changes to the public/private mix of health-care is expected in Australia, regardless of the political party in office.)
Please forgive my ignorance, and forgive me for taking this thread a little off track, but do you have socialized medicine in Australia? If so, what do you think of it? Does it work well, meet your needs, etc? In the US this issue is very highly charged politically speaking and as such, it is difficult to determine where the rhetoric ends and the reality of such a system begins. I have found it is most useful to ask citizens of countries where they have socialized medicine what it is actually like with that type of system.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajn-australia-1988
Given that there would seem to be an abundance of doctors commenting on this forum, I'm interested in what your observations are about the politics of American nurses?
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As far as American nurses, I know two personally. One is my little sister and the other a friend from childhood. I would say my sister is pretty centrist in her views, but leans slightly to the right. My friend is quite conservative. I also know a physician's assistant (my cousin) and a cardiothoracic surgeon (brother in law). Both of them are very, very opposed to socialized medicine even though they are not extremely right wing on other issues.
I really would like to hear your opinion on the whole socialized medicine issue if you don't mind.
I am an ex-Republican who is now independent, but I will never understand liberals/left-leaning people because they generally have zero conceptual interpretation of economics (micro or macro) or even a basic budgetary principle. They want everything given to them.
The worst type of human being is the leftist, bitter lawyer that wants a socialist collective society and..... oh my, who did I just describe?
Marksman, this is just ridiculous. I'm a liberal (moderate but still a liberal) I've taken economics (micro and macro) and I have a degree in business. I worked fill-time while putting myself through school. I graduated *** laude in 2009 and I'm now seeking professional certification at the expense of my employer. I've been in my current role for two years and since then, I've been promoted once, designated a corporate officer, and received two raises. I've worked my @ss not only in the last two years but for years before that while juggling school and work. I don't use credit cards, I pay my bills on time. I purchased a house and paid for my wedding and honeymoon in cash.
Maybe next time you should think a bit before typing such a broad stereotype. Foolishness is all this is...
Coming from a family that has five doctors and two engineers (includes me), we all are liberal/progressives and have an impossible time aligning with the rhetoric spewed from the right wingers in this country. People in the academia, and scientists/researchers tend to be liberal. According to a 2009 Pew Research survey, 55% of the scientists polled identified themselves as democrats and only 6% as republicans. On ideological grounds, only 9% identified themselves as conservatives.
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I think it's pretty easy to tell where someone's political ideology lies just by working/conversing with them every day. Maybe you don't work in an office with other people or you work from home?
oh my, who did I just describe?
